Have you checked your medicine cabinets lately? You’ll probably find some unused or expired pills.
Oct. 24 is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s next Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is offering a drive-thru collection site at our headquarters this Saturday. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., stop by 521 Gibson Road in Lexington to get rid of any leftover prescriptions conveniently from your vehicle. Deputies will be on-site to safely collect and dispose of these items.
Additionally, we will have deputies in the Walmart Neighborhood Market parking lot on Emanuel Church & Old Barnwell Road from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday for collections.
Please don’t throw your pills in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Teens who abuse prescription drugs are typically getting them from friends, family—and you guessed it—home medicine cabinets.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that the nonmedical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America. And yes, taking prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you or supervised by a doctor is dangerous. It can be just as dangerous as street drugs.
Many other agencies across the Midlands will be participating in collection sites. Check out takebackday.dea.gov to find a site near you. We also offer drop-boxes at all of our county locations during business hours; our headquarters location offers 24/7 access.
Prescription drug addiction doesn’t discriminate. If you need someone to talk to, please view our Community Resource Guide at lexingtonsheriff.com.
Don’t let them get into the wrong hands. Help us stop accidental poisonings, overdoses and drug abuse by properly disposing of your unused and expired drugs before it’s too late.