• By Ashleigh Sloop
• Posted Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Operation Medicine Drop

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Yadkin Riverkeeper, are sponsoring a drug abuse prevention event, named Operation Medicine Drop. All Forsyth County residents are encouraged to bring expired or unwanted prescription medications in their homes for proper and safe disposal. Syringes, liquid medications and creams cannot be accepted at this event.

Monday, June 15th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

• Rural Hall Fire Department
• 177 NC 65
• Rural Hall, NC 27045

If you can't make this event, click here for a list of permanent medicine drop locations in the Yadkin River Basin.

Operation Medicine Drop is a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, the 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, unwanted and expired 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. Since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop has collected nearly 53 million pills at more than 1600 events.

Nationwide, fatal drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death due to unintentional injury, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Prescription and over-the-counter medications cause more than three-fourths of all unintentional poisonings in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Division of Public Health.

The average North Carolinian fills 14 prescriptions annually. Of the drugs dispensed, approximately 40% are not used. The unused medications are often disposed of in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. Both practices lead to water contamination. In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey identified 100 pharmaceutical contaminants in rivers and streams. The introduction of these chemicals is detrimental to aquatic life and those who directly or indirectly drink from the water supply.

For more information about Yadkin River Keeper, please visit: http://yadkinriverkeeper.org/

For more information about Operation Medicine Drop, please visit: Safe Kids NC.