Asheville drug take-back event collects unused medications, fights misuse

Unused prescriptions came under the spotlight at Tanger Outlets Asheville, where the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other public safety partners for a drug take-back event aimed at keeping dangerous medications out of homes, out of circulation and out of the trash. The 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day ran Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearly 4,200 sites nationwide.

The warning from prevention workers is simple: the risk often starts in the medicine cabinet. Brianna Plumber, a prevention specialist at R.J. Prevention resources, said many people who begin misusing prescription medication get it from the home. The drugs most often misused are opioids, central nervous system depressants such as tranquilizers, sedatives and hypnotics, and stimulants, which is why organizers urged residents to clear out old pain pills, sleep medicines and other leftover prescriptions before someone else finds them. Organizers also had supplies available to help families lock up medication at home.

The stakes are especially high in North Carolina, where Operation Medicine Drop says improperly disposed medications can end up in the wrong hands or in the water system. State officials say an average of four people per day are dying from overdose in North Carolina, and 79% of those deaths involve some type of opioid. Since the first NC drug take-back event, the program says it has collected more than 448 million pills, supported more than 4,690 events and helped place more than 500 permanent drop boxes. DEA says the October 2025 Take Back Day collected 571,054 pounds of medication, bringing the total collected since fall 2010 to more than 20,391,815 pounds.

For people who missed Saturday’s event, Asheville Police Department has a secure drop box in the front lobby at 100 Court Plaza, where old or unneeded prescription medicine can be dropped off during regular business hours. The department also accepts medicine directly through its Evidence Unit at the same address on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and it does not accept syringes or needles. The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office also maintains permanent medication drop boxes at the Judicial Complex, 60 Court Plaza in downtown Asheville, and residents can call 828-250-6670 for more information.