ALABASTER – Shelby County’s most recent Drug Take Back Day set a record for the county, according to Capt. Clay Hammac, the commander of both the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force and Compact 2020.

On Oct. 26, more than 400 pounds of prescription medications were collected at various drop-off locations throughout the county.

“With your help, we took unwanted, unused and expired medications out of medicine cabinets and quite possibly off the streets,” Hammac said.

On that day, vape devices and cartridges were also accepted, and people were able to drop off prescription drugs with no questions asked.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Alabama continues to lead the nation in the number of opioid prescriptions written. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

Those who missed Drug Take Back Day can drop off prescription drugs at any permanent drop-off location in the county. Shelby County citizens can utilize these units to safely and anonymously dispose of unwanted prescription medication.

The units can be found at the following locations:

• Alabaster Police Department (201 1st Street N.)
• Chelsea Fire and Rescue Station 1 (160 Chesser Drive)
• Harpersville Police Department (83 Town Hall Lane)
• Helena Police Department (816 Shelby County 52 West)
• Hoover Public Safety Center (2020 Valleydale Road)
• North Shelby Fire District Station 1 (4617 Valleydale Road)
• Pelham Police Department (32 Philip Davis Street)
• Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (380 McDow Road)
• Shelby County Sheriff’s Office North Substation (5511 Hwy 280, Suite 117)
• Montevallo Police Department (541 Main Street)