Project Rx: A River Remedy Announces Date & New Partnership
September 14, 2011
Community taskforce provides proper disposal of unused medicine
GREENVILLE, SC – September 14, 2010 – Project Rx: A River Remedy will hold its third drug take-back event on October 29, 2011, encouraging community members to properly dispose of unused medications.
The Project Rx event was 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 contaminates our community’s water sources. However, not disposing of the medication leaves them accessible, feeding the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, each person in the United States filled an average of 12 prescriptions in 2009. With Greenville County’s population of approximately 450,000 people that means more than 5 million prescriptions are brought home each year, plus millions more bottles of over-the-counter drugs.
In order to expand both 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 a national drug take-back day as well, and the two organizations will collaborate for the first time in October, with the DEA providing safe disposal services for all locations.
The Project Rx community taskforce is led by Renewable Water Resources, and includes partners Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville Family Partnership and Greenville Technical College. Supporting organizations include Greenville County Medical Society, Greenville Water System, Senior Action, Upstate Forever and Whole Foods Market.
Interested participants can visit the drive-thru locations of McAlister Square (225. S Pleasantburg Drive), St. Francis’ Millenium Campus near CU-ICAR (2 Innovation Drive) and the Greenville County Medical Society (1395 South Church Street), as well as numerous drop-off locations (to be announced) throughout the Upstate thanks to the partnership with the DEA. Upstate residents can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins & supplements, and veterinary medicine—no questions asked.
Event managers ask that participants use a black sharpie marker to eliminate any personal information on prescription medication 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.
For more information, visit the Project Rx website or call 864-467-4099.
About 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.
