The Aberdeen Police Department in conjunction with N.C. Safe Kids, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration will be sponsoring Operation Medicine Drop March 15 - 19, 2010.  The goal of this program is to safely collect and dispose of unused and expired prescription medication to reduce unintentional poisonings and overdoses.

 There are various problems associated with unused and expired prescription medication such as accidental poisoning, drug diversion, and environmental damage. 

Children, ages 1 - 5, account for 23% of all emergency department visits related to poisoning and these types of injuries result in a high death rate of infants younger than 1 year old (source World Health Organization 2008 Childhood Injury Report).  Poisonings from prescription medications are on the rise in North Carolina; since 1999 more than 75% of all unintentional poisonings were caused by prescription or over-the-counter medications (source N.C. Division of Public Health).

Drug diversion, theft, burglary, illegal possession, and drug abuse are major crimes in households where narcotics are present.

Furthermore, the disposal of unwanted drugs as household trash or by flushing them down the sink or toilet is unwise and dangerous to the environment.

Please bring your unused or expired prescription medication to the Aberdeen Police Department located at 804 N. Sandhills Boulevard March 15 - 19, 2010 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  We do rely on you to help and we do appreciate it.