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Operation Medicine Drop

Our country is experiencing an epidemic of prescription drug overdose deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since 1999, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled, which coincides with a sharp spike in the sales of prescription drugs. And from 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids. To put that into some context, in 2014 there were approximately one and a half times more drug overdose deaths in the country than deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
To help combat this epidemic that has taken the lives of too many North Carolinians and devastated families, law enforcement agencies across our state are partnering with Safe Kids North Carolina and the Drug Enforcement Administration to collect and safely destroy old drugs as part of prescription drug take-back events.
Since 2009, North Carolina residents have safely disposed of more than 61 million total doses - stopping narcotics from falling into the wrong hands and preventing dangerous chemicals from ending up in our water supply. These events typically take place in the spring and fall, which are overseen by law enforcement.
Residents in communities all across North Carolina, including Cleveland County, are urged to find out if their community is participating in a prescription drug take-back event and if so to drop off their unused, unwanted, or expired medications for safe disposal.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. and opioid addiction is driving this epidemic. And most people who abuse prescription painkillers indicate that they obtained the prescription drugs from friends or relatives for free.
The North Carolina Sheriffs' Association is proud to serve as a strong partner in this important effort to keep dangerous pharmaceuticals from misuse and abuse, as well as preventing contamination of our water resources. And we are pleased that the North Carolina General Assembly passed HB 1030, which allocated $120,000 in additional funds to the State Bureau of Investigation for Operation Medicine Drop.


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