MUSC offers medication drop box to curb illegal use and improper disposal
October 1, 2015
Box at MUSC Public Safety Department only easily accessible box for 50 miles
CHARLESTON, SC – In an effort to assist other local law enforcement organizations in decreasing the amount of illegally used or improperly disposed of prescription medications in the Charleston area, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Public Safety Department has installed a secure, medication drop box for unused or unwanted prescription medications.
“When we learned that there were no drop boxes on campus yet, largely because there wasn’t a secure and safe place big enough near our pharmacies for installation, we knew we could help,” said Lt. Layne Thompson, MUSC Public Safety. “We want to keep people safe, and we want to support our colleagues in pharmacy services who are very concerned about illegal medication use and improper disposal, which can lead to accumulation of medications in our ground water in addition to illegal activities.”
The new medication drop box is located in the lobby of the MUSC Public Safety department, located at 101 Doughty Street, Charleston, S.C. With this new installation, the department participated in the DEA’s “Drug Take-Back Day” Sept. 26, having collected more than 20 pounds of unwanted or unused medications.
Prior to this new drop box for unused or unwanted prescription medication now located on the MUSC campus, only one DEA-registered drop-off site existed within 50 miles of Charleston. That site is located at the Charleston Air Force Base and unfortunately is not accessible to the majority of the public.
The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) has launched the Rx Drug Drop Box program for law enforcement organizations. According to their website, prescription medications have become the target of theft and misuse. The group states that America’s 12 to 17 year olds have made prescription drugs the number one substance of abuse for their age group, and much of that supply is coming from the medicine cabinets of their unwitting parents, grandparents, and friends.
Thompson encouraged the local community to use the new, more conveniently located drop box at MUSC, citing the need to remove these substances from the home legally and safely, turning them over to law enforcement for proper processing and disposal. Thompson said that the department would be partnering with the MUSC College of Pharmacy’s Generation Rx initiative to spread the word about the box’s arrival to campus. For more information about additional drop box sites in South Carolina and beyond, visit http://rxdrugdropbox.org.
About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the South. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and residents, and has nearly 13,000 employees, including approximately 1,500 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the university and its affiliates have collective annual budgets in excess of $2.2 billion. MUSC operates a 750-bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children’s Hospital, the Ashley River Tower (cardiovascular, digestive disease, and surgical oncology), Hollings Cancer Center (one of 68 National Cancer Institute designated centers) Level I Trauma Center and Institute of Psychiatry. For more information on academic information or clinical services, visit musc.edu. For more information on hospital patient services, visit muschealth.org.
