Project Rx: A River Remedy Expands to 25 Upstate Locations

Drug Disposal Taskforce Launches Third Take-Back Event with DEA

GREENVILLE, SC – October 29, 2011 – Project Rx: A River Remedy, a community-driven medication collection event, will hold its third drug take-back event on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10am to 2pm.

Project Rx originally launched in November 2010, and held a second take-back event this past June. The two events resulted in a combined collection of more than 1,175lbs of unwanted medication that was properly disposed of by the Greenville County Sherriff’s Office. Improperly disposing of medicines by flushing or pouring them down the drain can harm our water resources. However, leaving unwanted medications accessible in the medicine cabinet feeds the growing problem of prescription drug abuse.

In order to expand its footprint and capacity, Project Rx welcomes a new partner for its third event—the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA regularly holds national drug take-back day, and for the first-time this October, the two organizations will collaborate to provide safe disposal services for all locations.

As a result of this new partnership, Project Rx has expanded to 25 drop-off locations this fall. Interested participants in the Greenville community can visit the following locations:

•Greenville County Medical Society-1395 South Church Street

•St. Francis Millennium Campus-2 Innovation Drive

•McAlister Square-225 S. Pleasantburg Drive

•Greenville Law Enforcement Center -4 McGree Street

For more information and a complete list of the 25 Upstate locations, visit the Project Rx website, www.aRiverRemedy.org or call 864-467-4099. Upstate residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins & supplements, and veterinary medicine—it’s free and anonymous.

Event managers ask that participants use black sharpie marker to eliminate any personal information on prescription labels, but to leave the name of the drug visible to ensure proper disposal procedures. Sharps, needles, etc. will NOT be collected at the event.

The Project Rx community taskforce partners include Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Family Partnership Greenville Technical College, Renewable Water Resources and the U.S. DEA. Supporting organizations include Greenville County Medical Society, Greenville Journal, Greenville Water System, Senior Action, Upstate Forever, Upstate Parent and Whole Foods Market.

Project Rx: A River Remedy

Project Rx: A River Remedy is a local collaboration of community organizations united to help keep our rivers and residents safe from unused medications. Founded in 2010 as a multi-organization collaboration, Project Rx pulls together multiple community resources to hold take-back events semi-annually. As a safe alternative to flushing unwanted medications down the drain, or leaving them at home within the reach of the wrong hands, this program allows Upstate residents to bring prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and supplements for a free and anonymous disposal… the perfect remedy for our community.

Renewable Water Resources (ReWa)

ReWa’s goal is to promote a cleaner environment, and to protect the public health and water quality of the Upstate waterways, while providing and developing the necessary sewer infrastructure for the growing economy. ReWa serves more than 400,000 industrial, commercial and residential customers in Greenville County and parts of Anderson, Spartanburg, Pickens and Laurens Counties.