TULSA – Community members will have an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications during the Drive-Thru Drug Take Back event hosted by the Muscogee Creek Nation Department of Health on Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Council Oak Comprehensive Healthcare.
The event is designed to make medication disposal quick, convenient, and anonymous. Participants will be able to drive through the collection area, hand their medications to event staff, and leave without getting out of their vehicles.
No identification is required, and participants will not be asked questions about the medications they bring.
Sarah Cowett (Mvskoke), Program Director of the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) & Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) program, said safely disposing of medications can help reduce preventable risks in the home.
“Keeping medications around after you no longer need them can create an unnecessary risk in the home,” Cowett said. “They can be accidentally taken by a child, family member, or pet, or potentially misused by someone they weren’t prescribed for.”
The event will accept unused or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, including pills, capsules, and liquids. Pet medications can also be accepted.
Prescription pain medications and other controlled medications are especially important to keep secured and properly disposed of when they are no longer needed, Cowett said. However, she encouraged community members to look through all of their medications.
“Even medications that may seem harmless can be dangerous if they’re taken by the wrong person or taken incorrectly,” she said.
There is little preparation required before bringing medications to the event. Organizers ask that medications remain in their original containers when possible, as the labels help with identification and sorting.
For those concerned about privacy, personal information such as a name or address can be marked out while leaving the medication information visible. Liquid medications should be securely closed before being brought to the drive-thru.
The event cannot accept inhalers, needles, or other sharps. Those who are unsure whether a particular item can be accepted are encouraged to contact event staff.
After medications are collected, they are placed in disposal bottles, where they begin to disintegrate. Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police will be on-site to help maintain the chain of custody throughout the process. The medications remain secured from collection through final disposal to prevent them from being accessed or returned to circulation.
Cowett said the take-back event also provides an opportunity for community members to learn about medication safety, overdose prevention, and resources available through MAT/TOR.
Medication lock boxes and Narcan will be available to participants while supplies last.
For citizens who are unable to attend the event, Cowett recommends using a permanent medication drop box or another authorized take-back location. These locations can include pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement facilities that are registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to collect unwanted medications.
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration maintains an online Year-Round Drop-Off Locations search tool, where residents can search by ZIP code, city, or state to find an authorized collection site near them.
Another option for those unable to attend is to follow the disposal instructions provided with their medication or guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Cowett said the goal is ultimately to make safe medication disposal as accessible as possible.
“We just want to help people safely get medications they no longer need out of their homes,” she said.
For more information about MAT/TOR resources, visit the MAT/TOR MCN Health page, or call the 24/7 information line at (539)286-3996.
