Knoxville, TN–Metro Drug Coalition is partnering with Knox County Sheriff’s Office to provide resources and offer medication take back for Knoxville’s older adults.
On October 22, 2022, Metro Drug Coalition and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office will hold an Aging Adult Resource Fair at Beaver Dam Baptist Church in Halls from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The resource fair will include community resources from vendors around the Knoxville area, free shredding, and an opportunity to safely dispose of any unwanted medications, including syringes and sharps.
From 2000-2018, Knox County saw a 59% increase in the senior population, and currently has approximately 145,000 citizens over the age of 50. This event is an opportunity to connect them with the services available to them to help combat problems often faced by aging adults, including financial, social, emotional, and medical challenges. Additionally, the 2021 Drug Related Death Report revealed people over the age of 55 saw the sharpest increase in drug-related deaths in Knox County, including a 150% increase in those over the age of 75, suggesting that proper disposal of medications is more important now than ever. The take back portion of the event will prevent accidental ingestion of both household and prescription medication, as well as lower the chances of substance misuse.
“This event is important because it enables aging adults and their loved ones to access numerous resources in our community in one stop,” said Metro Drug Coalition Coalition Coordinator, Misty McPhetridge. “Our hope is that attendees will leave more knowledgeable, confident, and prepared for the years to come.”
Metro Drug Coalition partnered with the Knoxville Police Department on October 8, 2022 for the DEA National Take Back event and collected 358 pounds of unwanted medications. The medication take back portion of the Aging Adult Resource Fair is open to those who may have missed the last event and need to safely dispose of unwanted medications to reduce chances of accidental ingestion, substance misuse, and environmental harm.
Metro Drug Coalition is a non-profit organization established by a joint resolution of the City of Knoxville and Knox County to unite policy makers and leaders to address community substance misuse issues. It serves the community by educating; advocating for treatment, prevention and recovery services; and providing a forum in which members from all sectors of the community come together to address substance misuse. More information can be found here
