National Pill Take-Back Day Is Sept. 29

It's often difficult for the public to dispose of expired prescription drugs.

“Pharmacies can't take them back, hospitals can't take them back,” said Captain Chad Brooks with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. “There's no other recourse for people to get rid of them. We're their only avenue to get rid of them.”

On Saturday, September 29, law enforcement agents will collect unused and unwanted prescription drugs during the National Pill Take-Back Day.

Law enforcement will be collecting the old medication from 10am – 2pm that day.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In Pickens County, old prescription drugs will be collected at three locations: Cannon Memorial Hospital in Pickens, Baptist Easley in Easley, and the Clemson Free Clinic in Clemson.

“We try to spread the locations out to make it easier for people to get to,” Brooks said.

National Pill Take-Back Days are held twice a year.

The event gives the public a chance to get rid of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Old medication can be potentially dangerous, both to people and the environment, Brooks said.

“There were so many people were flushing their old medications,” Brooks said. “They started seeing traces of opiates and other things in the water system. They're trying to get away from that.”

“This is such a good idea,” said Faye Nichols, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County. “I think about people with elderly parents that pass away, or with parents that have been given medication that the parent can't take. Then they've just got it and what are they supposed to do with it?”

Last year, local law enforcement collected 250lbs of pills alone, said Lt. Henry Campbell with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.

“That's not including bottles,” Brooks said.

The local National Pill Take-Back Day is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Easley Police Department, Clemson Police Department, Cannon Memorial Hospital, Baptist Easley Hospital.