Sheriff's Office arranges drop-off dates to dispose of unwanted medications

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office is urging residents to get a head start on spring cleaning next month by disposing of their expired and leftover medicines at a county collection site.

The Sheriff's Office is teaming with state and county agencies, such as the Solid Waste Recycling plant and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department, to sponsor a medicine cabinet clean-out event to allow residents to dispose of old prescription medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Residents are asked to bring old and unwanted medications to collection sites for disposal Saturday, March 6, at the Public Works Department at 9 Benton Field Road in Bluffton and Saturday, May 1, at 142 Shanklin Road in Burton.

"Keeping expired and leftover medication in the home can lead to unintentional poisonings, especially in young children and older adults," said Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Cpl. Robin McIntosh in a release. "Improper disposal of medication can also lead to soil and water contamination."

Residents should not bring liquid medications, syringes or medical waste to the collection sites.

Sheriff's deputies will provide scissors and markers for removing any personal information for the medications before placing them in a secure, tamper-proof box, the release said.

Deputies will be on site to monitor the box at all times.

After the event, the medicine will be disposed of by Sheriff's Office evidence technicians.

The use of prescription drugs not prescribed by a doctor or health professional is illegal. Residents also should not bring illicit drugs to the event.

"This is an amnesty event aimed at removing these potentially dangerous medications from circulation," McIntosh said in the release. "No participant will be prosecuted for surrendering any medication during the event."

IF YOU GO:

Beaufort County medication disposal events:

• From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at the Public Works Department at 9 Benton Field Road in Bluffton.

• From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at the Public Works Department at 142 Shanklin Road in Burton.

*Information: To arrange further assistance in medication collections, call Sgt. Chris Sankowski of the Beaufort-Jasper Drug Task Force at 843-757-1575, ext. 235.