Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday in Sumter

Do you have any prescription drugs you no longer want or need?

Well then you're in luck. This Saturday is Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and Sumter is participating.

Drop off your unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Sumter Police Department, 335 N. Lafayette Drive; Sumter County Sheriff's Office, 1281 N. Main St.; or at 411 Polifka Drive on Shaw Air Force Base.

"We try to take prescription medications that could be dangerous," Sumter Police Department Public Information Officer Tonyia McGirt said.

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, six million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs.

"It's an opportunity to give them to the police department or other local agency to destroy them," McGirt said. "It's a safe outlet for medications you no longer want or use."

However, there are some medications these agencies are unable to accept.

"We cannot accept creams, liquids or sharps, which is anything with a syringe or needle," McGirt said.

This event is held in Sumter twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. It usually turns out to be helpful, too.

"We get several hundred pounds of prescription pills we're able to dispose of (per event)," McGirt said. "It's usually pretty good, but we can always do better."

Sumter Police Department also provides this as a community service year 'round.

"During our regular hours year 'round, during weekdays, it's a free service," McGirt said.

For more information, call Sumter Police Department at (803) 436-2770 or visit www.dea.gov/.