ELIZABETHTOWN — For the second straight year, the Bladen County Sheroff’s Office and Elizabethtown Police Department will join forces for Operation Medicine Drop.
The event, which allows area residents to safely dispose of expired and unused prescription or over-the-counter medications, will take place on Tuesday, March 20, from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot on West broad Street in Elizabethtown.
“We are excited to be offering this again,” said Elizabethtown Police Chief Bobby Kinlaw. “Last year was a huge success; this could save so many lives.”
Kinlaw said the program is aimed at keeping old and unused medications out of the wrong hands, including children in the home.
Operation Medicine Drop cannot accept biohazard materials.
According to statistics, unintentional poisoning from prescription medications in North Carolina exceeds the national rate and continues to rise. Since 1999, a total of 5,717 state residents have lost their lives because of unintentional poisonings. In addition, non-fatal poisonings are common among children under the age of 5.
“Operation medicine Drop offers the public a free and convenient option for disposing of their prescription and over-the-counter medications to protect their families and the environment,” Kinlaw said.
Information about Operation medicine Drop can be found online at www.ncsafekids.org.
Post a Comment
