The City of Florence will soon host a drug takeback day to allow residents to safely dispose of old prescriptions.
Florence is joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for the 22nd National Take Back Day, establishing two locations across the city where residents can bring their expired, unused, or unwanted medications. The drop-off service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.
Anyone can bring pills for disposal to one of two locations on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kroger Pharmacy at 7685 Mall Road and Florence Police Department at 8100 Ewing Boulevard. Sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharp objects. Only pills or patches are accepted. Some pharmacies have safe disposal boxes for old and unwanted prescriptions as well, so anyone who can’t find time to dispose of their prescriptions on National Take Back Day may check for local pharmacies with these drop boxes.
Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 372 tons (more than 744,082 pounds) of prescription drugs at 4,982 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,276 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 21 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 16 million pounds – nearly 7,634 tons – of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to a press release from the DEA and Florence. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.