The fall Operation Medicine Cabinet held last Saturday was a big success, as we expected from previous OMC events. Volunteers around the county collected unused and unwanted drugs from community members so the drugs could be properly destroyed. This programs helps to keep drugs out of our rivers and away from kids.

This fall, we collected 86,030 pills, 4.9 gallons of liquids, 3 pounds of other solids, and 8,883 sharps. 126 individuals dropped off medications, often collecting the drugs from other family members and neighbors.

The participant in the video above brings up an important point — with only two days currently available to drop of drugs, there is still not a convenient way for people to discard drugs at other times. We hope to install a permanent drop box in Watauga County in the near future, so that people can dispose of drugs properly, on their own time, any time of year.

Thank you to all of the OMC volunteers and supporters, including: Watauga County Sheriff’s Department, Boone Police Department, Beech Mountain Police Department, Blowing Rock Police Department, Foscoe Fire Department, Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department, Seven Devils Police, Appalachian State University and the ASU Police, The Town of Seven Devils, Watauga River Conservation Partners, North Carolina Cooperative Extension, State Bureau of Investigation, Watauga County Recycling/Solid Waste Department, and Boone Drug.

To find out more about this program, check out our previous blog and press release.