National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to take place Saturday at two Aiken County pharmacies

Bianca Moorman, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Apr. 21—Those needing to dispose of their unused and expired medication can do so anonymously during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

On Saturday, people locally, statewide and nationally will be able to take their unused and expired medication to various locations between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to dispose of them safely.

Collections will be taken at Parks Pharmacy in North Augusta and Rural Health Services at the Clyburn Center for Primary Care in Aiken. Local law enforcement such as the Aiken Department of Public Safety will assist in the event by boxing the medication before it's sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposal.

"It's kind of a safe and convenient way to remove medications from people's homes who aren't using them anymore," Dr. Cedrick Hair, with Rural Health Services at the Clyburn Center for Primary Care said.

The event. which has been taking place for the last 24 years, involves collecting tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs for disposal, according to a DEA media release.

Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted, but liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original containers, the release said.

More than 8,300 tons of medication have been removed from circulation since the event started, the release said.

DHEC director of the Division of injury and substance abuse prevention Emma Kennedy said the drug take back day is a good way for people to get rid of the medication and to keep them out of the hands of people who might not need the drugs.

"It is something we can all do to get unused medicine out of cabinets, so they don't fall into the hands of someone who might misuse them, or a child," she said.

Joshua Wilson, a pharmacy technician with Parks Pharmacy, said the pharmacy participates in the event twice a year.

He said medication should not be flushed down the toilet, but should be safely disposed of by taking them to a local law enforcement agency or pharmacy.

"We want to make sure that nobody is taking anything they shouldn't be taking," he said. "It kind of helps with emergency room visits as well for people ingesting things they shouldn't."

For more information on where to take medication on Saturday, visit the DEA's National Prescription Take Back Day website at dea.gov/takebackday.