Drug Take-Back In Cornelius: How To Get Rid Of Old Prescriptions

CORNELIUS, NC — Area residents seeking a safe way to get rid of old or near-empty bottles of prescription medication will soon have an opportunity to do just that.

Cornelius Police Department is hosting "Operation Medicine Drop" on Saturday, Oct. 24 at police headquarters from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Here's what CPD says about the event:

• Bring medication for disposal to the CPD side parking lot located at 21440 Catawba Ave. The Medicine Drop will be on the side closest to where the new Cain Arts Center will be, which is opposite from Walgreens.
• The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
• No needles or liquid medicines will be accepted.

"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 Mike Causey. "I commend the Cornelius Police Department for actively engaging their community in this very important initiative and I thank the public for taking responsibility to dispose of medications in a safe, secure way."

In 2018, opioids were involved in 67,367 overdose deaths, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet, the Drug Enforcement Administration said.

Other methods of disposal — throwing unused drugs out with the trash or flushing them down the toilet — can cause environmental damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

But it's not just opioids that pose dangers. Expired prescription drugs can be less effective or risky due to changes over time in chemical composition. Some expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Expired antibiotics may not treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the DEA said.

More information about the Operation Medicine Drop Take-Back Event in Cornelius may be found here.