Keep all of the medications in the original containers leaving the labels on the bottles to identify the drug and quantity. Event staff will need this information to ensure proper disposal procedures.

If the pills are individually wrapped in plastic and foil, carefully pop out all of the pills and put them in a sealed Ziploc bag. Make sure to bring all of the original boxes and containers for drug identification purposes.

Black out all of your personal information on the label with a dark permanent marker, except the name of the drug. We will need the drug name for sorting purposes.


Visit one of the drive-through event locations where volunteers will greet you at your car to guide you through properly disposing all of your unwanted household medications.

Question: How does the take-back event work?

Answer: Participants can bring their medications in the original containers and drive to one of our main locations. When onsite, Project Rx volunteers will be there to guide you through the drive-thru, so you don’t even have to get out of your car. We will take, sort and dispose of the meds, and send you back on your way within a few minutes.

Question: Will anyone know I came to the event?

Answer: Not unless you tell them! We are very conscious of protecting the identities of our participants. Our volunteers will mark off with a permanent marker any personal information you have on prescription labels. We do not ask for any personal information at the event, only how you heard about us and generally where you are coming from – this helps us track where the greatest demand is for the next Project Rx.

Question: How often will you hold take-back events?

Answer: Currently, Project Rx is a semi-annual event. We hold one event in the late Spring and one in the Fall generally.

Question: How do you dispose of the medications that are collected?

Answer: Law enforcement is a big part of Project Rx – we want a safe and secure event. This year, Project Rx will be working in partnership with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). They will take all collected medications and incinerate them. Incineration is currently the safest way to dispose of medications and is the same process for how law enforcement disposes of illicit drugs.

Question: Doesn’t incinerating the medication cause air pollution?

Answer: Incinerating medication is much more sophisticated than tossing them into a fire. Law enforcement and other disposal companies have high-tech equipment with an extensive filtration process to prevent air pollution.

Question: Isn’t it a safety issue collecting quantities of drugs at these locations?

Answer: Project Rx is highly protected environment with law enforcement heavily on-site constantly monitoring take-back procedures and securely holding, and transporting all of the collected drugs.

Question: Can I volunteer at an event?

Answer: We appreciate the community’s interest in supporting the event. Due to security and safety reasons, we have strict protocols for who is allowed to work at the event, especially with controlled materials. Instead, we ask you to support us in promotion – let us know if you want some flyers or save-the-date cards to hand out, or connect with us on social media. We’d love to hear from you!

…each person in the US fills an average of 12 prescriptions a year?

With Greenville County’s population of approximately 450,000 people, that means we bring home more than 5 million prescriptions each year. Plus there are millions more over-the-counter drugs. A lot of the medications go unused.

…every day, an estimated 2,500 youth in the US misuse some form of medication for the first time?

70% of the teens who abuse medication report obtaining it from a friend or family member.

…over 700,000 emergency room visits are due to the non-medical usage of prescription and over-the-counter drugs?

Teens often abuse prescription or over-the-counter drugs because they believe them to be a “safer” high than illegal drugs.

Other Resources:

NIDA (National Institute for Drug Abuse) For Teens: teens.drugabuse.gov

ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy):  www.ondcp.gov

Partnership for a Drug-Free America:  www.drugfree.org

Parents – The Anti-Drug:  www.theantidrug.com

Painfully Obvious:  www.painfullyobvious.org

Addiction 411: http://www.addiction411.com/teaching-kids-about-drugs-and-alcohol/

Lacking a safe method to dispose of medications, many people leave them sitting in the medicine cabinet – out of sight, out of mind. At our fifth drug take-back event in Fall 2012, we received prescription medication dating from 1960 – 52 years waiting for a solution! The problem with holding on to medications is the potential for them to find their way out of our homes and onto our streets, making our neighborhoods unsafe.

So what can be done? Can we take steps to address and reduce the harmful impacts of these medications on our waterways, our streets, our homes, and our community?

The life cycle of medication should end with proper disposal.  We need individual support in changing behavior and organizational support in changing policies. With your help, and through awareness, education, and take-back events, we can keep our neighborhoods and environment safe from the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter medications.