The average North Carolinian fills 17 prescriptions annually and studies show that as much as 40% of the drugs dispensed are never used.
Abuses of unused and/or expired prescription medications is a public health issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse as well as protect our water system. Poisoning is the number-one cause of injury-related deaths in the United States. The latest statistics show that the number of unintentional poisoning deaths in North Carolina increased more than 320 percent, from 279 deaths in 1999 to 1,178 deaths in 2014.
Since 1999, 91% of all unintentional poisonings were caused by prescription or over-the-counter medications (Source: N.C. Injury & Violence Prevention Branch).
If trends continue, unintentional poisoning deaths will surpass motor vehicle deaths as the leading cause of injury deaths in North Carolina by 2017.
Wake County residents are encouraged to protect their families by safely disposing of unused and/or expired medications at any of the 11 permanent medication
take-back boxes in Wake County
Medicine Take-Back Box Locations
- Wake County Human Services Public Health Center
10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh
919-250-4553
Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 8 pm, Saturday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm - Apex Police Department
205 Saunders St., Apex
919-362-8661
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Morrisville Police Department
260 C Town Hall Drive, Morrisville
919-463-1600
Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm - Wake County Sheriff’s Office (Lobby)
330 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh
919-856-6900
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Cary Police Department
120 Wilkinson Ave., Cary
919-469-4012
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Wake Forest Police Substation
221 S. Brooks St., Wake Forest
919-554-6150
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Wake County Law Enforcement Training Center (Operated by Sheriff’s Office)
2300 Law Enforcement Drive, Raleigh
919-856-6900
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Fuquay-Varina Police Department
919-552-3191
114 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina
24/7 - Garner Police Department
912 7th Ave.,Garner
919-772-8810
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm - Holly Park Pharmacy
3058 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh
919-865-9993
Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, Saturday 10 am – 1 pm - Holly Springs Police Department
750 Holly Springs Road, Holly Springs
919-557-9111
24/7
Does not accept liquids or needles (unless otherwise stated)
See more at wakecountygov.com