The American Medicine Chest Challenge

Columbia, SC: MAKING SURE PEOPLE DON'T **ABUSE** PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

THAT'S WHAT THE MIDLANDS DRUG FREE COLLABORATIVE WAS HOPING TODAY BY TAKING PART IN THE AMERICAN MEDICINE CHEST CHALLENGE.

SEVERAL C-V-S PHARMACIES IN RICHLAND AND LEXINGTON COUNTY WERE SET UP TO TAKE EXPIRED MEDICATIONS FROM PEOPLE'S MEDICINE CABINETS.. SO THEY COULD BE DISPOSED OF PROPERLY.

A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS THAT IN THE MIDLANDS, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE RANKS SECOND ONLY TO ALCOHOL USE, SURPASSING BOTH TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA USE.

EXPERTS SAY THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE IS SIMPLE.

TEENS ESPECIALLY, DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO FIND DRUGS.

Lexington County Residents - locked boxes will be accessible to the public Monday thru Friday from 10:00 am-3:00 PM at the following locations:

 Lexington County Sheriff's Department Headquarters

521 Gibson Road, Lexington, SC 29072

(Lexington, Red Bank, Gilbert, Batesburg-Leesville and Hollow Creek)

 Lexington County Sheriff's Department North Region Headquarters

111 Lincreek Drive, Columbia, SC 29212

(Irmo, Chapin, West Columbia, Cayce & St. Andrews)

 Lexington County Sheriff's Department South Region Headquarters

102 Airport Road, Pelion, SC 29123

(Pelion, Gaston, Swansea, Edmund and Boiling Springs)

7 Oaks Park, Irmo/Chapin Recreation Commission

200 Leisure Lane, Columbia, SC 29210

(803)772-3336

 Gilbert Senior Center

130 N. Oak Street, Gilbert, SC

(480)503-6290

 Batesburg/Leesville Senior Center

227 Highland Ave., Batesburg, SC

(803)532-3810

Pelion Senior Center

210 Pine Street, Pelion, SC 29123

(803)894-4351

 Swansea Senior Center

197 N. Lawrence Street, Swansea, SC 29160

(803)568-4545

 Pine Ridge Senior Center

2753 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, SC 29172

(803)755-1274

 Crooked Creek Park Irmo/Chapin Recreation Commission

1098 Old Lexington Hwy, Chapin, SC 29036

(803)345-6181

Richland County Residents-locked boxes will be accessible to the public from 9:00 am - 11:00 am on Mondays and Wednesdays at the following locations:

 Region #1, (803) 576-1470

2615-B Lower Richland Blvd., Columbia, SC 29061

 Region #2, (803) 788-1667

7201 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223

 Region #3, (803) 576-2215

6429 Bishop Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203

 Region #4, (803) 576-1455

1019 Beatty Road, Columbia, SC 29210 

Region #6, (803) 865-8011

96 Lake Carolina Blvd., Columbia, SC 29229