South Carolinians are encouraged to safely dispose of unused medications during the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Medications will be collected at various locations across the state Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Take-back locations will accept tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Vaping devices and cartridges, liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. Find a collection site near you.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency hosts the event twice annually in partnership with local law enforcement and community organizations. During the most recent Drug Take Back Day in April, nearly 5,000 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription drugs were collected in South Carolina across 47 drop-off sites.
In 2024, the most recent year for which complete data is available, there were 1,481 drug overdose deaths in the state, a 31.3% decrease from the 2,157 drug overdose deaths in 2023. Of those overdose deaths, 1,166 were attributed to prescription drugs.