AHOSKIE – On March 19 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.), Operation Medicine Drop will give the public another opportunity to prevent accidental poisonings, abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your medications for disposal to Walgreens at 700 S. Catherine Creek Road, Ahoskie. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Since 2010, over 1,600 sites have collected over 53 million dosage units of medication during take back events statewide.

Operation Medicine Drop is an effort coordinated by North Carolina Department of Insurance, Safe Kids North Carolina, NC State Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Riverkeepers of NC and local groups to prevent accidental poisonings, substance abuse and protect our waters.

“Every time we collect and destroy a dosage of excess medication, it’s a success. We’re keeping these drugs out of the wrong hands and out of our waterways,” said Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. “I commend Ahoskie Police Department for actively engaging their community in their very important initiative and I thank the public for taking responsibility to dispose of medications in a safe, secure way.”

With unintentional poisoning deaths on the rise in the state, Operation Medicine Drop reminds parents and caregivers to:

Keep medicines locked up and out of reach of children.

Always read labels, follow directions and give medicine to children based on their weights and ages. Only use the dispenser packaged with children’s medications.

Avoid taking medicine or vitamins in front of kids, and don’t call them candy.

If you suspect poisoning and a child is choking, collapses, can’t breathe, or is having a seizure, call 911. Otherwise, take the product to the phone and call the national Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

For more information about Operation Medicine Drop, go to www.ncsafekids.org.