WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wondering what to do with expired prescriptions in your medicine cabinet? New Hanover Regional Medical Center is hosting a free medication disposal event Saturday.
It’s from 9 a.m. to noon at the NHRMC Medical Mall at 2243 S. 17th St.. That’s beside the main hospital campus. Drive-thru service will be available.
The public is invited to bring their unneeded and expired medications to be disposed of in a safe, convenient and environmentally sound manner. The event is held in partnership with law enforcement agencies, Cape Fear Community College, Safe Kids NC, Cape Fear Clinic, Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug Free Tomorrow, and New Hanover Soil & Water Conservation District.
All medications brought to the event should be in their original containers to help identify the medication. All personal information is removed. The Wilmington Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to accept controlled substances. Medications can be prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins or herbal. No needles or syringes will be accepted.
Having unnecessary medications in the home can be a hazard. Old medications could be confused with current medications; children could be poisoned by them; and pets could be harmed if they ingest medications dropped and not picked up. In addition, improper disposal of medications can have an adverse effect on the environment.
Proper disposal of unused medications also prevents them from falling into the wrong hands and being distributed illegally or being used by someone who is abusing prescription medication. Misuse of prescription drugs has become a serious problem throughout the region and is now the second leading cause of death in Eastern North Carolina.
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