MCLEANSVILLE, N.C. -- Dozens of people dropped off hundreds of pounds of old prescriptions to get them out of medicine cabinets and keep them out of the wrong hands.
NC Safe Kids, the Guilford County Sheriff's Office, Alcohol and Drug Services and the McLeansville Lyons Club hosted "Operation Medicine Drop" Monday.
Residents dropped off 206 pounds of medicine, which equals 154,537 dosage units of medicine.
There are several reasons for medicine drops, like this one.
"People tend to flush [their prescription] or they'll throw it in the trash can," said Calandra Lewis of Alcohol and Drug Services. "Unfortunately, if you throw it in the trash can, it can get into the wrong hands."
Flushing medicine down your toilet can contaminate our water supply. Leaving it around your house makes it accessible to anyone -- specifically, teenagers.
Lewis says one in 12 high school seniors misuses prescription drugs. And, 70 percent of all teenagers admit to doing the same. Lewis says it's a dangerous trend, and parents need to pay close attention to the prescriptions in their houses.
"What happens is [teenagers] will take [a pill], and then they'll continue and before you know it, they're addicted," she said. "And often, it leads to a heroin overdose or heroin use."
The Alcohol and Drug Service reported doctors wrote about 800,000 prescriptions in North Carolina last year. About 40 percent of those are never used.
So, it's important to get rid of the prescriptions you don't need. And, there are several chances to do so this week. There are four upcoming medicine drops in the area.
Tuesday, you can drop off your old prescriptions at the Guilford County Sheriff's District 1 Office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's located at 7506 Summerfield Rd. in Summerfield.
There's another drop Wednesday at the Guilford County Sheriff's District 3 Office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's located at 211 Hillstone Dr. in Jamestown.
And, Saturday, March 1, there's a medicine drop at McLarty Drug & Surgical Supply from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The address is 810 N. Main St. in High Point.
The drops are for prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications.
You can drop off your old prescriptions year-round at these locations:
- Greensboro Police Department: 300 Swing Rd., Greensboro
- Greensboro Police Department: 1106 Maple St., Greensboro
- Guilford County Sheriff's Office: District 1 Office - 7506 Summerfield Rd., Summerfield
- Guilford County Sheriff's Office: District 2 Office - 6307-B Burlington Rd., Whitsett
- High Point Police Department: 1009 Leonard Ave., High Point (Open 24/7)
- Burlington Police Department: 267 W. Front St., Burlington
- Mebane Police Department: 116 W. Center St., Mebane
