More than 160 pounds of unwanted prescription medications were disposed of properly

Campbell United, Campbell County’s anti-drug coalition held a drug take back event on Saturday from 10 am till 2pm both in the Woodson’s Mall parking lot and at the Veteran’s Park in Jellico. Overall, the event got over 160 pounds of unwanted medication to be disposed of. Pictured left to right at the Woodson’s Mall drop off point is Campbell United Board Chairman Debbie Petree, Catherine Bruson with Prevention Alliance, Campbell United Assistant Director Kaylee Queener, Scott County ‘s Drug Coalition Youth Coordinator Vickie Jones, Scott County drug coalition director Trent Coffey, and Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy Bryan Oakes.

By Charlotte Underwood

CAMPBELL COUNTY, TN (WLAF)- More than 160 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs were received during Campbell United’s Drug Take Back event held on Saturday, April 26th at the Woodson’s Mall parking lot and at Jellico’s Veteran’s Park. The aim of the event was to “provide a safe way for unneeded prescription medications to be disposed of” and was part of a National DEA Drug Take Back initiative. Campbell United had a booth set up from 10 am till 2 pm to collect the unwanted prescription drugs, they also handed out prescription drug lock boxes.

This year, Campbell United expanded the event by holding the takeback both at the Woodson’s Mall parking lot, as well as one at the Veteran’s Park in Jellico. The Woodson’s Mall location received 120 pounds of unwanted prescription meds dropped off, while the Jellico location took in 44 pounds.

According to Campbell United Director Charlsa Honeycutt, they were “very pleased with the turnout for the event” and “over 160 pounds of prescription drugs were disposed of.”

According to organizers, events like this are important to get these unwanted prescription drugs out of your medicine cabinet so they do not fall into the wrong hands or get disposed of improperly.

Campbell United held a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday at the Woodson’s Mall parking lot and in Jellico. Event co-organizer Trent Coffey shows off some of the unwanted prescription meds dropped off during the event. Jellico had 44 pounds dropped off, while the Woodson’s Mall location had 120 pounds dropped off! These unwanted meds will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency to be destroyed.

“We had a great response to this event and collected more than double what we did last year,” said event co-organizer Trent Coffey.

Holding community events like this are in alignment with Campbell United’s Mission Statement to “Prevent substance use and misuse for youth and adults in Campbell County through awareness education and recovery support.”

According to Honeycutt, having a drug take back event like this for the local community shows their mission and vision statements in action by “getting these possibly dangerous prescription medications out of reach of youth.”

“This will keep them out of the reach of small children while helping our environment,” Honeycutt said.

Organizers also wanted to say, “thank you to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department and the Jellico Police Department for their support of the event.”

Organizers also want to notify the public that the county has two permanent medication disposal containers, one at the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and another at the Jellico Police Department.

“Any day, anyone can come in and drop off medications, particularly after someone has passed, this is a good time to utilize these disposal sites,” said Catherine Brunson with Prevention Alliance.

Campbell United Board Chairman Debbie Petree said Drug Take Back events like this are important for the community and the anti-drug coalition, creating a partnership.

Campbell United held a Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26th at the Woodson’s Mall parking lot and at Veteran’s Park in Jellico. This was the first event held in Jellico and had 44 pounds of unwanted meds dropped off. There is also a permanent prescription medication drop box located at the Jellico Police Department and at the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department. Pictured left to right is Milessa Dunlop with Campbell County CASA, Ned Smiddy with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and Jellico PD, Campbell United Charlsa Honeycutt, Campbell County Sheriff Wayne Barton, and ASAP of Anderson County Overdose Prevention Specialist Kristi McCaleb.

“It gives us the ability to reach out to our community to where we are working to prevent and not have to address the misuse of these drugs afterwards. It keeps it off the streets and out of our young people’s hands,” Petree said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-04/28/2025-6AM)

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