Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Thursday

ASHEBORO — Prescription drug misuse has taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the misuse of opioid medications an epidemic. Proper disposal of expired, unused and unneeded medications from the home helps promote public health and safety. 

With that in mind, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and Safe Kids Randolph County are hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Thursday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to allow individuals to just drive through the parking lot and dispose of prescription drugs that could be diverted or misused. 

During the event, Safe Kids Randolph County will distribute medicine lock boxes while supplies last. The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is at 727 McDowell Road in Asheboro. 

Each day, approximately 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 62% of teenagers say they choose to abuse prescription drugs because they are easy to get from a relative’s medicine cabinet. 

While prescription drug abuse is more commonly associated with younger age groups, senior and elderly medicated patients may also be at heightened risk of developing addiction due to the number and variety of drugs they take for health reasons. Cleaning out unused prescriptions helps reduce that risk.

The Prescription Drug Take Back Day and the Med Dropbox give people the opportunity to properly and safely dispose of prescription medications, ensure they don’t get in the wrong hands and are kept away from our water and landfills.

On other days, a Med Drop collection box is available in the first-floor elevator entrance of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with no questions asked and no paper-work to fill out. The prescription drop box is for prescription drugs only. No syringes or liquids are to be dropped off in the drug drop box at any location.

Prescription Drop collection sites in Randolph:

■ Randolph County Sheriff’s Office

727 McDowell Rd., Asheboro, NC 27205 (336) 318-6699

Available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

■ Asheboro Police Department

205 East Academy St., Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 626-1300

Available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in the department lobby.

■ Randleman Police Department

101 Hilliary St., Randleman, NC 27317

(336) 495-7516

Available 24 hours/7 days a week

Box is located in the department lobby.

■ Archdale Police Department

305 Balfour Dr., Archdale, NC 27263

(336) 434-3134

Available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (excluding holidays).

■ Liberty Police Department

451 West Swannanoa Ave.

Liberty, N.C. 27298

336-622-9053

24 hours a day / 7 days a week in the department lobby.

■ Walgreens: Contact for locations and hours. 

■ Other pharmacies: Contact to determine if they have a service.