Several Sandhills Locations Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs October 26
| Date Posted: 10/25/2019
PINEHURST, N.C. – Prescription drugs can pose significant risks if not disposed of correctly.
FirstHealth of the Carolinas encourages people in its 15-county service area to clean out their cabinets on Saturday (October 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and take old medicines to a secure drop box location.
Operation Medicine Drop is sponsoring several events in the area Saturday, and they coincide with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Take Back Day. Local Operation Medicine Drop events are in West End, Raeford, Rockingham and Laurinburg.
Since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop, a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, the Riverkeepers of North Carolina, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina and local law enforcement agencies, has collected nearly 89.2 million pills at more than 2,000 events.
In 17 previous Take Back Day events, people have turned in 5,900 tons of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
The initiatives address a vital public safely and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Items that can be returned on Saturday include prescriptions, prescription patches, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples, blister packs and pet medications. Visit FirstHealth’s website for information on unacceptable items.
You can also read more about how FirstHealth is committed to reducing opioid related overdoses. Sandhills-based drop boxes are available in the following locations:
Hoke County
Rockfish Pharmacy
221 Flagstone Lane, Raeford
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Box located inside
CVS
230 Cole Avenue, Raeford
Monday – Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Lee County
Lee County Sheriff’s Department
1401 Elm Street, Sanford
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Box located in lobby
Sanford Police Department
225 East Weatherspoon Street, Sanford
Open 24 hours
Box located inside department
Walgreens (Dalrymple)
1956 South Horner Boulevard, Sanford
Open 24 hours
Walgreens
1050 South Horner Boulevard, Sanford
Monday – Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Medicine Park Pharmacy
100 Park Avenue, Sanford
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department
111 W. Main Street, Troy
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Box located inside department
Moore County
Moore County Sheriff’s Department
302 S. McNeill Street, Carthage
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Box located inside lobby area
Pinehurst Police Department
420 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst
Open 24 hours
Box located inside department
Aberdeen Police Department
804 N. Sandhills Boulevard, Aberdeen
Monday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Box located inside department
Whispering Pines Police Department
14 Hardee Lane, Whispering Pines
Monday – Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Box located inside department
Richmond County
Hamlet Police Department
201 West Main Street, Hamlet
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Box located inside department
Rockingham Police Department
311 Franklin Street, Rockingham
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Box located inside department
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
1 Court Street, Rockingham
Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Box located inside department
Walmart
720 U.S. 74 Business, Rockingham
Open 24 hours
