Police Collect Large Cache of Old Prescriptions in Round-Up

Law enforcement agencies across Moore County teamed up to collect 564 pounds of medication as part of a national campaign to curtail prescription drug abuse.

Organized locally by the Moore County Sheriff’s Office, the National Take Back Initiative gives residents a chance to rid their medicine cabinets of unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Sheriff Neil Godfrey called this year’s initiative, which included events on April 29 and Oct. 28, a “huge success.”

The October event featured drop-off sites at the Seven Lakes Fire and Rescue Department and at Harris Teeter in Taylortown. Rep. Richard Hudson visited the Taylortown site to chat with constituents and show his support for the initiative.

Godfrey says the cooperation of residents played a large part in the campaign’s success.

“Everything we do at the Sheriff’s Office is in partnership with the citizens of Moore County and this Take Back initiative exemplifies that,” Godfrey said in a statement. “Without their help and understanding our results would not be the same. This initiative is one more thing we can do in law enforcement to help curb accidental poisonings, overdoses, abuse and misuse of prescription medications.”

Other agencies that participated in this year’s campaign included the Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Taylortown and Whispering Pines police departments.

Residents who missed the events can safely dispose of their prescription medications by using one of the many drop boxes offered at police stations in Moore County. The boxes are available at the Sheriff’s Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Pinehurst Police Department and the Whispering Pines Police Department.

During last year’s National Take Back Initiative, 336 tons of prescription drugs were collected across the country at nearly 5,200 sites operated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and its state and local law enforcement partners.