SALYERSVILLE – Despite a cold, rainy day, Magoffin County citizens took advantage of a free program Wednesday, March 30, to dispose of unused or out-of-date medicines.

A total of 12,199 pills were brought in during UNITE’s “Clean Your Medicine Cabinet Out Day” event at Salyersville City Hall.

All of the unused or out-of-date medicines brought in were fed to Operation UNITE’s “Pill Dragon” – a mobile incinerator provided by UNITE, PRIDE and the Kentucky Army National Guard.

Since its debut in August 2010 the dragon has consumed 374,068 pills.

This event capped a months-long effort called “Accidental Dealer” to raise awareness of securing your medications and the area’s problems with prescription drug abuse.

Also participating in the program were the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, Salyersville Police Department and Magoffin County Coroner’s office.

“The Pill Dragon offers citizens an easy way to dispose of old or unwanted medications,” noted Karen Kelly, director of UNITE. “This is important for two reasons: It reduces your risk of being a victim of a burglary or theft and it avoids the potential health and environmental effects of having these substances in our water system and soil.”