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Whitaker Drugs hosted South Central Alabama Mental Health for a prescription drug take-back event Wednesday, Aug. 3.

Representative Michael Clemmons was tasked with the job of helping the community be safe and protecting its teens.

“Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in America now,” said Chip Whitaker, owner of Whitaker Drugs. “Every day, nearly 2,500 teens abuse prescription drugs for the first time. They get these drugs from someone’s medicine cabinet; drugs that are past their expiration date and forgotten by the owners”

Whitaker estimated that at least $2,000 worth of expired drugs were turned in.

He added it’s better for people to give the medication back as opposed to flushing it down the toilet.

“You don’t want them to leech out into the water system in any way,” Whitaker said. “We don’t want it to contaminate the groundwater.”

That’s the main reason these events are held.

Whitaker said another reason to turn in the meds is due to a drug losing its potency after the expiration date. It will continue to decrease in its effectiveness.

He said he counts this drug take-back day as a success, just like his Greenville pharmacy.

“It’s going pretty good,” he said. “We still need to continue to see people.”

According to Whitaker,  the store in Greenville has outpaced his other store in Camden.

“If you look at the timelines, we’re ahead of pace,” he added.

Whitaker Drugs is located at 750 Willow Lane in Greenville. For more information, contact the pharmacy at (334) 371-7900 or connect via Facebook and its website, www.whitakerdrugs.com.