Dangerous Drugs Could Be in Your Home

COLUMBIA, S.C.(WOLO) — Chances are a lot of us have medicine cabinets or we at least have unused prescription medications, but that is becoming a national problem. The medications are being abused by adults, teenagers, even kids who do not need them. But, law enforcement agencies across South Carolina are working to stop the problem through ‘Drug Take Back Day.” “Kids are getting into their parents medicine cabinets, their grandparents medicine cabinets and stealing these very powerful drugs like oxycodone,” says Kershaw County Sheriff, Jim Matthews. And the problem is growing. “The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana, as the most prevalent category for drug abuse in the United States,” says William Douglas, Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Columbia, SC district of the DEA. “According to a recent national survey on drug abuse and health, 2 million people ages 12 and older admitted abusing prescription drugs fro the first time last year,” says Douglas. “55% said they got the medication from family and friends, even their own home medicine cabinet,” says Douglas. But you can help fix the problem by simply taking your unused or expired prescription medications to drop-off locations provided throughout the state on October 29, “Drug Take Back Day.” This is the third year for the program and results from last year are staggering. “Americans across the country turned in 188 tons, that’s over 376,000 pounds of unwanted or unused prescription drugs. In South Carolina alone, our citizens turned in over 1,250 pounds of unwanted and expired prescription drugs,” says Douglas. This year law enforcement officials are hoping for an even better turnout in the state by adding more drop off locations. This year, 70 locations will be available as compared to 43 last year. “They’re very valuable on the street, we need to get them off the street and this is one way to do it anonymously and free of charge,” says Sheriff Matthews. If you are planning to take your unwanted or expired prescription medications to a drop-off location, do not take intravenous solutions or syringes, those will not be accepted. For more information on drop-off locations and what drugs are accepted, visit www.dea.gov and click on the ‘Got Drugs’ link.