National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Offers Safe Disposal of Unwanted Medications in Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Time to Clear Out Those Medicine Cabinets!

Hey, Columbia! If you’ve been meaning to declutter your medicine cabinet, now is the perfect time! This Saturday, October 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to safely dispose of any unused or unwanted medications lying around your home.

What Is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day?

For those unfamiliar, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the potential risks associated with keeping unused prescription drugs in our homes. This event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of these medications, helping to prevent accidental overdoses, misuse, and harming the environment.

Where Can You Drop Off Your Medications?

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, you can drop off your medications at various locations, including local law enforcement agencies, hospitals, and participating CVS and Walgreens stores. Here in Columbia, the Lexington Police Department is excited to participate and will have officers ready to assist you with your drop-offs!

Here are the specific locations where you can safely drop off your medications:

CVS: 5608 Sunset Boulevard
Walgreens: 5220 Sunset Boulevard

What You Can and Can’t Bring

When you head out to drop off your medications, it’s important to know what you can and cannot bring. The officials will be accepting:

Unused or unwanted prescription medications
Over-the-counter medications

However, please remember that they will **not** accept:

Creams
Liquids
Sharp objects

So, make sure to stick to pills and tablets when gathering what to drop off!

Why Participate?

You might be wondering, “Why should I take the time to participate in this event?” Well, here are a couple of really good reasons:

Safety: Unused medications can pose a risk for family members, particularly children and pets. Getting rid of them minimizes the chance of accidental ingestion.
Community Health: Flushing medications or tossing them in the trash can lead to contamination of water supplies and harm the environment. A proper take-back event ensures they are disposed of safely.

Spread the Word!

Let your friends and family know about this important day! The more people who participate, the safer our community becomes. Remember, this event is mainly about ensuring that medications are not misused and that our environment stays protected.

So, grab those old medications, mark your calendar for this Saturday, and head to your nearest drop-off location. It’s a small act that can make a huge difference!

Let’s help keep Columbia healthy and safe. We can’t wait to see you there!