(11/15/11) – Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal, led by McLeod Health, partners with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office to offer Operation Medicine Drop to the region.

Operation Medicine Drop allows for safe disposal of unused or expired over-the counter and prescription medications with local law enforcement.

Join Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office at the McLeod Health and She Magazine Pink Christmas event on Friday, November 18, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 19, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Florence Civic Center. Participants are encouraged to bring their unused or expired prescription medications at this time.

Drugs are often left unsecured in cabinets and on counters in the home, and unintentional poisoning deaths and injuries are increasing nationwide. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the total number of Emergency Department visits involving nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals increased more than 98%, from 627,291 visits to 1,244,679 visits between 2004 and 2009.

For patients aged 20 or younger, Emergency Department visits resulting from nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals increased 45.4 percent between 2004 and 2009 (116,644 and 169,589 visits, respectively). Among patients aged 21 or older, there was an increase of 111.0 percent.

For more information, please call Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal at (843) 777 – 2592.