The home is the prime place prescription drugs are accessed by children and teenagers. Prescription drug access also plays a role in unintentional poisonings from overdosing in children and adults and can be a source for attempting suicides in young and old alike.
Not only is the access to prescription medications a danger to loved ones, the improper disposal of medication harms the environment. Nearly 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals every year get flushed into our waterways, contaminating drinking water supplies and damaging the natural habitats of wildlife. As citizens, we must learn to change our habits, and stop the practice of pharmaceutical flushing. March 17-23 is National Poison Control Prevention Week. Help protect your family and the environment. Bring your unused or expired prescription medications to Operation Medicine Drop on March 18th, 2013 to the Clemmons Fire Department. Law Enforcement from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will assist in the collection and proper disposal of these medications.
Operation Medicine Drop is a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, Riverkeepers of North Carolina, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina and local law enforcement agencies working together to encourage the public to safely dispose of unused and unwanted medication. By providing safe and secure ways for people to get rid of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications, Operation Medicine Drop helps prevent accidental poisonings and drug abuse while protecting our waters.