Safe Disposal: Protect Your Family by Clearing Out Unused Prescriptions

OSUS urges South Carolinians to use safe disposal sites statewide

Columbia, S.C. – Unused prescription drugs left in the home are more dangerous than many realize. When left unsecured, they can be misused, stolen or taken accidentally – putting children, teens, pets and family members at risk. To protect South Carolina families, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Substance Use Services (OSUS) is reminding residents to use official safe disposal sites located across the state.

“A simple clean-out of your medicine cabinet could prevent a tragedy,” said Michelle Nienhius, Manager of Prevention & Intervention Services at OSUS. “By disposing of unused or expired medications properly, you reduce the risk of misuse, protect children and pets from accidental ingestion and help keep our communities safer.”

Unused prescription drugs are a leading source of misuse. Many people who misuse medications get them not from strangers, but from friends or family medicine cabinets. Safe disposal is paramount – even one unsecured pill can cause serious harm if taken by a child or pet, and disposing of medications in the trash or by flushing them can contaminate soil and water.

The safest and most responsible way to dispose of unused prescriptions is by using one of the hundreds of authorized drop boxes across South Carolina. These locations are free, secure and anonymous. A full, interactive map of disposal sites can be found at www.justplainkillers.com.

In addition, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A searchable list of South Carolina collection sites can be found at www.dea.gov/takebackday.

An initiative of OSUS, Just Plain Killers is South Carolina’s statewide campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of opioids and to promote prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction resources. In addition to safe disposal, the campaign highlights access to naloxone, signs of overdose and connections to treatment services. Learn more at www.justplainkillers.com.

About the BHDD Office of Substance Use Services

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' Office of Substance Use Services ensures the availability and quality of a continuum of substance use services to improve the health status, safety and quality of life of individuals, families and communities across South Carolina. For more information, visit bhdd.sc.gov/office-substance-use-services.