LewisGale supports drug take back events in West Virginia

SALEM, Va. (WDBJ) – Saturday, October 26 is Drug Take Back Day in West Virginia.

And LewisGale is one of the organizations encouraging people to hand in their unused or expired medicines

Every year, the health system sponsors Crush the Crisisto raise awareness about prescription drug abuse.

There are six LewisGale collection sites in Roanoke, the New River Valley and the Alleghany Highlands open from 10am to 2pm on Saturday.

Derrick Botkins is director of pharmacy services at LewisGale Medical Center in Salem.

“It’s not really safe to keep expired (medications) around, and unfortunately a lot of the time, people can steal from family members or relatives or abuse medications that are no longer needed,” Botkins said.

The process is easy and convenient, allowing people to drive up and quickly hand over unused or expired medication for safe disposal.