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Ellenboro Fire Dept.
175 Depot Street
Food Lion, Rutherfordton
169 Railroad Avenue
Ingles, Forest City
756 South Church Street
Spring cleaning? Don't forget your medicine cabinet! Operation Medicine Drop is a prescription drug take-back event that allows residents to turn in their unused/expired prescription and over the counter medications. Safely disposing of your unneeded medications can help prevent drugs that are often abused or misused from falling into the wrong hands. Drugs that are of particular concern include opioid painkillers such as Oxycontin, Percoset, and Vicodin to name just a few.
If you have prescription painkillers in your home that are 'left over" from a surgery or injury and you're no longer taking them per your doctor's orders we encourage you to please dispose of them safely at one of the take back locations. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Klonopin are also commonly abused or misused. When reviewing unintentional deadly drug overdoses in our county, a combination of opioids and 'benzos' is often to blame. Proper disposal of unwanted medications also helps prevent accidental poisonings and groundwater contamination.
Safe Kids North Carolina is partnering with agencies across the state to set up Operation Medicine Drop events throughout North Carolina where people can safely dispose of old or unneeded prescription, over the counter, and veterinary medications. Unfortunately, we can NOT accept radioactive chemotherapy drugs, biohazardous waste, or needles/syringes at Operation Medicine Drop. Local partners also include the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Forest City Police Department, Food Lion, Ingles, Ellenboro Fire Department, and United Way of Rutherford County.
*Operation Medicine Drop can't accept biohazardous waste, needles, or radioactive chemotherapy medications.
For more information contact the United Way at 828-286-3929 or www.ncsafekids.org.
