You come home from surgery, take a prescription to help your body recover for a few days and now you’re back on your feet.  

But what about the medication?  

Is there a half-full pill bottle still sitting in your cabinet? 

And is that the same cabinet your children or guests can access? 

This is the common scenario in most homes today – unused prescriptions sticking around and presenting a danger to others. 

Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s pharmacy department is sharing this important message with the public to encourage safe prescription drug disposal practices to enhance health and safety in the Upstate. 

The most common risks tied to holding onto unused medications include accidental ingestion -- especially among children and pets but also including elderly people -- and medication misuse, abuse or theft, said Michael Harris, Spartanburg Regional’s System Pharmacy Diversion Officer. 

“Between family members and friends, the pain medications you keep around may unintentionally be helping someone abuse medications,” Harris said. “From a societal perspective, getting rid of unused medications is super important.” 

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, five out of the top 10 reasons teenagers misuse prescription drugs have to do with their accessibility. 

The main way to dispose of unused medications is to find a drug take-back location, primarily located at law enforcement agencies and pharmacies. Anyone can put their unused medications in a secure drop box without questions, Harris said. 

A local list of drop-off locations can be found through a Drug Enforcement Administration database. 

The FDA also provides a list of medications that can be safely flushed down the toilet as a means to disposing such medications that could otherwise be harmful to others. 

The DEA also sponsors a bi-annual Drug Take-Back Day where collection sites will be set up throughout the community for the public to come and dispose of their medications. 

“If there's not a drug take-back location near you and/or you don't have access to drug take back resources, you can take your medications mix them in a bag with dirt, cat litter or coffee grounds and throw them in the trash.” 

Harris said the most important thing is to not let unused prescription medications sit around and become a hazard to others in your home.

Encouraging participation in Drug Take-Back events and teaching people to dispose of unused medications is one way the Spartanburg Regional pharmacy is helping to keep our communities healthy and safe. 

The next Drug Take-Back Day is April 26, 2025. More information can be found here.