Residents looking to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications can visit two local collection sites Saturday, Oct. 24, as South Carolina health officials promote National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The South Carolina Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of medications that could otherwise be misused.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, nearly half of abused prescription drugs come from family members and friends, including medications taken from home medicine cabinets. Officials say properly disposing of unwanted prescriptions can help prevent accidental poisonings, misuse and overdoses.
South Carolina recorded 1,481 drug overdose deaths in 2024, the most recent year for which complete data is available. That represents a 31.3% decrease from the 2,157 deaths reported in 2023. However, 1,166 of the overdose deaths in 2024 were attributed to prescription drugs, according to DPH.
“While overdose deaths have declined over the past couple of years in South Carolina, the data still shows that prescription drugs account for a large number of overdose deaths that do occur,” said Julia Horan, DPH's Substance Use Prevention Unit manager. “Drug Take Back Day gives everyone a safe and simple way to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription medications, preventing misuse and keeping harmful substances out of our homes.”
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is held twice annually, in April and October, through a partnership between the DEA, local law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
During the April 2026 event, South Carolina residents turned in 4,905 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription medications at 47 collection sites statewide.
Collection locations will accept tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription medications. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes, needles and other sharps, vaping devices and cartridges, and illegal drugs will not be accepted, according to DPH.
For those unable to participate Saturday, permanent medication disposal locations are available throughout South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities maintains a map of year-round collection sites at justplainkillers.com/drug-safety.
DPH also offers free Overdose Prevention Safety Kits at its health clinics statewide. The kits contain nasal spray naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, which can reverse an opioid overdose, along with fentanyl test strips, treatment resources and instructions.
No appointment or identification is required to receive a kit.
Additional information about overdose prevention, treatment resources and medication safety is available at justplainkillers.com.
