Drop off unused, expired medicine on Saturday

Posted: Tuesday, Sep. 25, 2012

People with expired or unused prescription pills can drop off the medicine Saturday at dozens of sites across the state.

The effort is part of “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” an initiative by federal and local law enforcement agencies to try to stop pill abuse or theft. No appointment is necessary for the free event, and any medicine dropped off will be destroyed, officials say.

“Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in our country,” U.S. Attorney Anne Tompkins said in a news release. “Events like this give people the opportunity to safely remove prescription drugs from their homes and put them beyond the reach of those who may abuse them.”

A similar effort last October collected more than 7,500 pounds of prescription drugs across North Carolina, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Here is a list of some drop-off sites in the Charlotte region:

Mecklenburg County

• Bi-Lo: 9101 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Pineville, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Harris Teeter (multiple sites): 959 Sam Furr Rd., 5810 Prosperity Church Rd., 6701 Morrison Blvd., 7852 Rea Rd., and 1811 Matthews Township Pkwy. Matthews. All open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except for Morrison Boulevard location, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Pike’s Pharmacy, 2133 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Walgreen’s, 9202 Lawyers Rd., Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cabarrus

• Cannon Memorial YMCA, 101 YMCA Dr., Kannapolis, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gaston

• Food Lion parking lot, 202 Market St., Cramerton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Iredell

• Statesville Police Department, 330 S. Tradd St., Statesville, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• K-Mart, 1530 E. Broad St., Statesville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Fun Station 2000, 1415 N. Center St., Statesville, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Kerr Drug Store, 533 N. Main St., Troutman, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rowan