Medicine collection is planned
By John Joyce
Published in News on March 6, 2014 1:46 PM
The Goldsboro Police Department, in partnership with Project Safe Kids, is kicking off National Poison Prevention Week with Operation Medicine Drop -- four dates at four separate sites where residents can turn in prescription and over-the-counter medicines for proper disposal.
The first date is Friday.
The Peggy M. Seegar Senior Center at 2001 East Ash St. will host the first pill turn-in, from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The center has worked with police for several years to operate the program.
"They have a lot of medications there, and we've been doing it four years now," police crime prevention officer Cpl. Marissa Davis said.
The operation runs through March 24, with other drop-offs scheduled at Wayne Community College, Kirkwood Retirement Community and the Walgreens pharmacy on East Ash Street.
"We only host this once a year, so this is their opportunity to clean out the medicine cabinet in a way that protects the environment, the children and the community," Davis said.
Eligible drop-off items include any medications, prescription or over-the-counter, pet meds, and all other accompanying items that are not bio-hazards.
In addition to a more eco-friendly disposal process than simply flushing medications down the drain, Operation Medicine Drop keeps dangerous pills out of the hands of abusers and curious teens, Davis said. She said no one should simply flush medications down the drain because of the possibility of contamination.
"Do you know how many kids overdoes on prescription pills each year?" Police Chief Jeff Stewart asked rhetorically. "Too many."
The SBI will safely dispose of all medications on a designated date at the end of the operation, Davis said.
A pharmacy technician will be on site at each of the drop-offs to ensure proper identification and documentation of the medicines turned in.
"People can use a marker or Sharpie to mark out their names and personal information on the pill bottles," Davis said, " but be sure not to mark over the name of the medications," she emphasized.
The full schedule of dates and locations is listed below.
Anyone with questions about Operation Medicine Drop may contact Cpl. Davis at the Crime Prevention Office of the Goldsboro Police Department by calling 919-580-4239.
* March 7 -- Peggy M. Seegar Center, 2001 E. Ash St., 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
* March 17 -- Wayne Community College, 3000 Wayne Memorial Drive, 2-4 p.m.
* March 19 -- Kirkwood retirement Community, 2710 Langston Drive (across from the entrance to Berkeley Mall) 1-3 p.m.
* March 21 -- Walgreens pharmacy, 2602 E. Ash St., 1-4 p.m.