DPH urges safe medication disposal ahead of Drug Take Back Day

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages residents to participate in the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, by cleaning out and properly disposing of unused or expired medications.

Twice a year, in April and October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) partners with local law enforcement and other community organizations to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. Nearly 50% of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, according to the DEA.

In 2024, the most recent year for which complete data is available, there were 1,481 drug overdose deaths in South Carolina, a 31.3% decrease from the 2,157 drug overdose deaths in 2023. Of those overdose deaths, 1,166 were attributed to prescription drugs.

“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 drop-off events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. To find a local take back site near you, visit the DEA's Collection Site Locator.

Take-back locations will collect 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.

During the most recent Drug Take Back Day in April 2026, South Carolina collected 4,905 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription drugs across 47 drop-off sites.

There are also many locations that accept unused drugs year-round. The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, through its Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS), provides a map of these locations around the state at justplainkillers.com/drug-safety.

For information on opioid overdose prevention, the opioid antidote naloxone, finding a recovery provider, pain management options and overdose data, visit justplainkillers.com, which is managed by OSUS.

Free Overdose Prevention Safety Kits are available to all community members at DPH health clinic locations. These kits contain fentanyl test strips, nasal spray naloxone (Narcan), treatment resources and instructions for their use. No appointment is needed to receive a kit, and you do not have to provide identification.

Additional information about DPH opioid prevention programs is available on DPH’s Opioid Epidemic webpage.