South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is urging residents to participate in the 27th National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26th. The event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is part of a national initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) aimed at encouraging safe disposal of unused medications.
Over the past 13 years, since September 2010, these biannual events have collected and disposed of more than 9,285 tons of pharmaceuticals nationwide. In April 2024 alone, South Carolinians contributed to this effort by disposing of 6,412 tons of unwanted or unused medications.
During the last event in April, there were nearly 4,869 drop-off locations across the country for people to dispose of their unused medicines safely. For those looking to participate this time around, locations can be found at TakeBackDay.DEA.gov.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized the importance of proper medication disposal: “The message is clear and simple: take back and dispose,” he stated. He warned that while prescription medications can save lives when used correctly, they pose significant risks if expired or misused.
Wilson highlighted that senior citizens are particularly prone to keeping unused pills which could become accessible to teenagers or others who might misuse them. He urged everyone to check their medicine cabinets for any unused or expired medications and encourage family members to do the same.
Proper disposal prevents accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose while also protecting the environment. Collection sites will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs; however, liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, as well as illegal drugs will not be accepted.