MOREHEAD – A campaign by the Rowan County UNITE Coalition to encourage the safe disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications was a hit.
Ten citizens and two police agencies brought 6,585 unwanted, unused or out-of-date pills for destruction by the “Pill Dragon” – a mobile incinerator – to a free “Clean Your Medicine Cabinet Out Day” event held at the Carl Perkins Center parking lot on Friday, March 11.
Since being unveiled in August of last year the Pill Dragon – sponsored by Operation UNITE, PRIDE and the Kentucky Army National Guard – has incinerated 285,549 pills.
“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.”
If you missed this opportunity don’t worry, said Dana Quisenberry, Drug Free Communities project coordinator.
The Morehead Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, Rowan County UNITE Coalition, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rowan County Board of Education are sponsoring a National Pill Take-Back Day program on Saturday, April 30.
Citizens may drop off their medications between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Carl Perkins Center.