The South Carolina Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to dispose of unused and expired prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at designated U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration collection sites across the state.
The DEA partners with local community organizations and law enforcement agencies each April and October to provide safe medication disposal opportunities and help prevent prescription drug misuse.
According to the state health department, many prescription drug abuse incidents involve medications obtained from home medicine cabinets, family members or friends.
During the most recent event in April, South Carolina collected 4,905 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription medications at 47 collection sites, according to the department.
Although overdose deaths have declined in South Carolina in recent years, prescription medications continue to contribute to overdose fatalities, health officials said.
Residents can bring prescription tablets, capsules, patches and other solid prescription medications to participating collection sites.
However, collection locations will not accept vaping devices or cartridges, liquid medications, syringes, sharps or illegal drugs.
The initiative aims to reduce the risk of accidental exposure, medication misuse and overdose by keeping unwanted medications out of homes and away from people who might use them improperly.
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