By Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is planning an Operation Medicine Drop for Saturday, March 21 at three locations.

The medicine drop is designed to give Polk County area residents an opportunity to safely dispose of unused and unwanted medications.

The medicine drop will be from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on March 21 at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Columbus, the Saluda Police Department and the Tryon Police Department.

Operation Medicine Drop is a partnership with Safe Kids North Carolina, the RiverKeepers of North Carolina, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina and local law enforcement agencies. The agencies work together to encourage the public to safely dispose of medication and provide a safe and secure way for people to dispose of both prescription and over-the-counter medications that are unused, unwanted or expired.

“This helps to prevent children from accidental poisonings as children often believe the medications resemble candy or that taking the medications are acceptable due to seeing adults take them,” states a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. “Using Operation Medicine Drop also deters teenagers from having access to these drugs and prevents them from abusing or selling the medication.”

According to the sheriff’s office, since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop has collected more than 53 million pills at 1,600 different collection events.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was approved to have a permanent pill drop box at the sheriff’s office so residents can drop off medications at their convenience during regular operating hours, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

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