Operation Medicine Drop planned

  Safe Kids North Carolina, alongwith law enforcement agencies across the state, State Bureau of  Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration are sponsoring a statewide prescription medications take-back program called Operation Medicine Drop to prevent accidental poisonings and abuse.

  The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office will conduct Operation Medicine Drop Thursday, March 18, to collect expired or unused medications. The program is administered by Safe Kids N.C. and the N.C. Department of Insurance. Local law enforcement agencies participate by staging collection events in their communities. On March 18, officials from the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office will collect medicines at three locations: Central Elementary School, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Jarvisburg Elementary School, same times; Moyock Elementary School, same times.

  All medicine collected will be delivered to the State Bureau of Investigations office in Greenville where the medicine will be properly destroyed. Forinformation, contact the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office at 453-8204.

  If you cannot drop off your medicines, remember, unless otherwise stated on the label or in the drug information pamphlet given to yo by your pharmacist, do not flush unwanted prescription medication down the toilet. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently researching how prescription drugs affect U.S. waterways. Guidelines suggest mixing medications with items like used coffee grinds or cat litter and placing them in a sealed bag, empty can or jar. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription labels) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away. This extra step can prevent accidental overdose by children and pets and also possible drug theft. (From www.obxcommongood.org)