Hernando Community Coalition

Get rid of your unused and expired medications, June 20, 2026.

Cleaning Out the Cabinets

Prescription Drug Take Back Event Scheduled for June 20

https://www.hernandosun.com/2026/06/12/cleaning-out-the-cabinets/

It's good to invest in prevention.

Your community's safety and our environment matter! Join us at the upcoming medication drop-off event at TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill—a simple way to protect your loved ones and keep our planet safe. Bring your unused or expired meds and help prevent accidental poisonings and pollution.

This is a team effort, and every contribution counts. Spread the word by sharing this post with friends and family. Together, we can make a real difference!

Have questions or want to volunteer? Comment below or visit https://smpl.is/ak65j for more info.

Do you know what 710 day is? Learn everything you need to know about 710 - at the FREE virtual event. Join us July 1, 2026.

Do you know how to spot unused medications in your home and keep your family safe? Many of us have expired or forgotten meds tucked away, which can be risky if not stored or disposed of properly. Here are some quick tips:

- Check expiration dates regularly and separate expired or unused meds.
- Store medications in a cool, dry place out of reach of children and pets.
- Never flush medications down the toilet or throw them in the trash.

Join us on June 20th at TGH Brooksville & TGH Spring Hill for our safe medication drop-off event! It’s a great opportunity to dispose of your unused meds responsibly and protect your community.

Have questions or want to share your own tips? Comment below or tag a friend who should join! For more info, visit https://smpl.is/ak65q

We hope you never need this information. 💛 But if something feels off, it's worth knowing what to look for. 👀

Today's concealment products are designed to blend in with everyday school supplies. ✏️ A highlighter that's actually a v**e pen. A USB drive that isn't. A lipstick tube that holds pills instead. 💄

If you have reason to take a closer look, these are the spots that tend to hide the most:

🎒 Pencil cases and makeup bags
🎒 Inner liner pockets and hidden compartments
🎒 Hollowed-out books or water bottles
🎒 The bottom of the bag, under everything else

Trusting your teen and staying informed aren't opposites. You can do both. 🤝

Learn more → hernandocommunitycoalition.org/hidden-in-plain-sight.html

Hernando Community Coalition

Knowing the signs could save a life. 🧡A loved one acting withdrawn, hostile, or constantly exhausted? Changes in weight, sleep, or who they spend time with? These can all be early signs of a Substance Use Disorder.

Other signs to watch for:
→ Shifts in mood or appearance
→ Changes in eating or sleeping habits
→ Decline at work or school
→ Deteriorating relationships

You can't control what they're going through — but you can be ready. Our FREE NARCAN training shows you how to spot an overdose and reverse it.

Schedule yours → hernandocommunitycoalition.org/narcan.html

Most impaired driving crashes come down to a single moment. 🚗
The decision to drive home instead of calling a ride. To trust that you feel "fine enough." To assume the short distance won't matter.

That one decision is what separates a normal night from a tragedy — for honor students, devoted parents, volunteers, and neighbors who never thought it would be them.

If you feel different, you drive different. Make the call. Hand over the keys. Stay put.

More → hernandocommunitycoalition.org/impaired-driving.html

Your unused medications are a hidden danger to the ones you love most.

Every year, children and pets across the country are rushed to emergency rooms after accidentally ingesting prescription medications left within reach.

The real risks:
- Young children can't distinguish between medicine and candy
- Pets are extremely sensitive to human medications
- Opioids are especially dangerous for small bodies
- Even "child-proof" bottles can be opened by determined little hands

Your curious little one doesn't know that pretty pills could be dangerous. Your dog doesn't know that dropped medication could be fatal. Protect your precious family members: Dispose of unused medications immediately and safely.

Get your FREE disposal kit: hernandocommunitycoalition.org/medication-disposal.html

Because the medications that heal us can harm the ones we love most.

Medication Disposal Safely disposing of your unused medications right away can help prevent medications getting into the wrong hands. ​And safe disposal is easier than you think!

Your voice matters more than you think! Data shows Hernando County youth trust their parents and caregivers MORE than peers or social media when it comes to important decisions. This is your golden opportunity!
Your teens ARE listening – so let's make those conversations count.

Start the conversation about:

✅ The real risks of underage drinking and drug use
✅ How substances affect developing brains
✅ Building healthy coping strategies
✅ Creating open dialogue without judgment

Ready to have "the talk"? Get conversation starters, tips, and resources that actually work at hernandocommunitycoalition.org/talk-they-hear-you

Talk, They Hear You The HCC is equipping parents with the tools they need to talk to their kids about alcohol through the Talk, They Hear You campaign. In local surveys, most Hernando youth report they trust the...