Sheriff's Office To Conduct "Operation Medicine Drop"

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The Currituck County Sheriff's Office will conduct Operation Medicine Drop on Thursday, March 18 to collect expired or unused medications.

Operation Medicine Drop is a program administered by Safe Kids North Carolina and the N.C. Department of Insurance. Local law enforcement agencies participate by staging collection events in their communities.

On March 18, officials from the Sheriff's Office will collect medicines at three locations:

• Central Elementary School: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

• Jarvisburg Elementary School: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

• Moyock Elementary School: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

"This is an effort to collect expired, unused prescription drugs," said Currituck Chief Deputy Sandy Casey. "This is a safe place to bring them and we'll take them with no questions asked."

All medicine collected will be delivered to the State Bureau of Investigations office in Greenville where the medicine will be properly destroyed, Casey said.

According to Safe Kids NC, nearly 4,500 people have died from prescription drug poisoning in North Carolina since 1999.

Operation Medicine Drop is being held in cooperation with Currituck County Schools, which will be conducting Kindergarten and More At Four registration for the 2010-2011 school year on March 18 at each elementary school in Currituck County.