Florence residents can drop off unused or expired prescription medications for free at two locations Saturday, Oct. 24, as the Florence Police Department, led by Police Chief Jeff Mallery, partners with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The collection runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two sites: Florence Government Center–Florence Police Department north parking lot, 8100 Ewing Blvd., and the Kroger Marketplace at 7685 Mall Rd. The service is free and anonymous, the department said on X. No questions asked.
The event is part of a nationwide effort that has been running for 16 years. The DEA program gives people a way to safely dispose of old, unwanted or expired medications to prevent misuse, accidental ingestion and environmental contamination, according to the DEA's Take Back Day page. More than 4,200 collection sites participate across the country each round.
According to DEA program guidelines, residents may bring tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription medications. Liquids such as cough syrup are accepted if sealed in their original container. Residents should contact Florence police to confirm whether the local sites will accept vape devices and cartridges.
Syringes, sharps and illicit substances will not be accepted at any collection site.
The program has collected more than 21 million pounds of medications since it began. In April 2026, more than 4,300 law enforcement agencies participated nationwide, collecting 642,410 pounds across over 4,400 sites. That topped the October 2025 round, when agencies collected 571,054 pounds at 4,317 sites, according to DEA data.
The Florence Police Department can be reached at 859-647-5420. Residents who cannot make the Oct. 24 event can visit DEATakeBack.com for additional collection sites and year-round disposal options.
