Drug Safety

Take action against the opioid epidemic

If you have any old opioids, the safest course of action is to remove them from your home altogether. A preferred option is to drop off any unwanted or unused pills, liquids or other medications at a local drug disposal site.

To find a drug disposal site near you, click the button below.

FIND A DISPOSAL SITE NEAR YOU

Common Prescription Opioids

Even though these powerful medications can be a vital, life-changing medication to those living with chronic pain, they should only be used with extreme caution.

Learn more about alternatives
  • Actiq
  • Astramorph
  • Codeine
  • Conzip
  • Demerol
  • DepoDur
  • Dilaudid
  • Duragestic
  • Duramorph
  • Endocet
  • Exalgo
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Fentanyl
  • Lorcet
  • Lortab
  • Meperidine
  • Morphine
  • MS-Contin
  • Norco
  • Oxycodone
  • OxyContin
  • Oxecta
  • Percocet
  • Roxicet
  • Roxicodone
  • Tramadol
  • Ultram
  • Ventura
  • Vicodin

5 million

pain killer prescriptions are filled in South Carolina each year.

4/5

heroin users started with Rx pain pills.

1 in 4

people who are prescribed opioids struggles with addiction.

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Tips for safe storage

Keep locked away

Keep locked away

Take prescription medicines out of the medicine cabinet and secure them in a safe place only you know about, preferably a locked cabinet that others cannot access.

No loose pills

No loose pills

Prescription opioids should only be kept in the bottle provided by your pharmacy.

Always secure after use

Always secure after use

After taking your prescribed dose of a prescription opioid, immediately return the bottle to a locked cabinet or other safe place.

Keep track of quantities

Keep track of quantities

Knowing how many of your prescribed opioids you have taken – and how many remain in the bottle – will help you know if any have been taken by someone else.

Naloxone is a lifesaving, easy-to-use medication

Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It can keep an overdose from opioids, such as fentanyl, heroin, morphine and oxycodone, from becoming deadly. It should be administered as soon as possible when someone shows signs of an opioid overdose.

It's important to know that naloxone only works for 30 to 90 minutes, so it's vital that anyone who has overdosed gets professional medical attention.

  • Call 911 before administering so first responders can be on their way.
  • Remember, breathing is more important than waking up.
  • Naloxone is not effective in reversing overdoses caused by stimulants or sedatives only.
  • It is effective if opioids have been combined with stimulants or sedatives.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NALOXONE

NALOXONE SAVES SOUTH CAROLINA

NaloxoneSavesSC.org was designed to educate pharmacists and the public about South Carolina's law allowing pharmacists to dispense Naloxone to persons without a prescription.

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ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS

Alternatives to opioids for pain relief include over-the-counter acetaminophen, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, neurostimulators, injections, exercise, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care.

LEARN MORE ABOUT
ALTERNATIVES

THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP TOWARD PREVENTION IS TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN

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