Release date:
3/20/2018
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein is teaming up with the State Bureau of Investigation, the NC Department of Insurance and local law enforcement across the state to host series of Safe Kids NC Operation Medicine Drop events during North Carolina Poison Prevention Week. The events provide an opportunity for people to dispose of their unused prescription medications. At one event in Raleigh Monday, the SBI collected 1,146 pounds of extra prescription medication.
“Safely disposing of unused medication is an important measure everyone can take to help combat the opioid epidemic that is tearing apart families across North Carolina,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “Removing these dangerous pills from medicine cabinets ensures that they will not get into the wrong hands.”
The Attorney General has or will attend events in the following locations:
- North Hills Mall, Raleigh (Monday, March 19, 9 am – 2 pm)
- Rea Road Harris Teeter, Charlotte (Tuesday, March 20, 10 am – 2 pm)
- Asheville Outlets, Asheville (Thursday, March 22, 10 am – 2 pm)
- N. Main St. Publix, High Point (Thursday, March 22, 11 am – 3 pm)
- Wayne UNC Health Care, Goldsboro (Saturday, March 24, 9 am – 12 pm)
For a full list of events and permanent drop box locations, please visit ncdoj.gov/rxtakeback.
Every day, nearly four North Carolinians die from a medication or drug overdose. The majority of people who misuse prescriptions drugs report getting the drugs from family and friends—often taken from their medicine cabinets without their knowing. In 2016, 705 million opioid pills were prescribed in North Carolina, many of which sit unused in medicine cabinets.
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484
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