North Carolinians can get rid of their old prescription medications at more than 200 drop-off events across the state next week.
WHQR’s Michelle Bliss reports that more than 8 million doses of drugs were collected at last year’s Operation Medicine Drop events, including controlled substances like Fentanyl patches.
Approximately 1,000 people died in North Carolina last year from overdosing on prescription drugs. Some of the most commonly abused prescription and over-the-counter drugs include painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs, stimulants, and cough and cold medicines.
State Attorney General Roy Cooper says that safely disposing of old medications can keep legal, but potentially lethal, drugs out of the hands of young people who may abuse them.
The drop-off events are hosted by the state bureau of investigation, local law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and a group called Safe Kids North Carolina.
