Unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs have been determined to present substantial risks to our community by either falling into the wrong hands, or by damaging our environment through improper disposal. It is this awareness that has resulted in the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and local police departments working together to provide a safe alternative method for the disposal of unwanted medications.
The Problem
Studies have shown that residential supplies of pharmaceutical controlled substances – those found in our home medicine cabinets – have become the supply of choice for young people and criminals. Many abusers, a high percentage of which are teens, are known to have obtained their controlled substances from the homes of family and friends. In addition, research has shown that our environment has been threatened by medications being flushed down toilets. Most controlled substances are created synthetically, and are not removed through normal water-treatment processes. This can result in the discharge of these substances into the environment and into our ground water supplies.
The Solution
The Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce the installation of secure collection drop-boxes at two Sheriff’s Office locations. Brunswick County residents are encouraged to protect their families by safely disposing of unused and/or expired medications at the authorized medication take-back boxes listed below. For other locations in your area, you can use the Operation Medicine Drop search to find a permanent drop box near you.
