Wondering what to do with that old bottle of penicillin, or how to keep unused Vicodin or Ambien out of the wrong hands? A upcoming event in Mount Airy could be the answer.

Operation Medicine Drop, to be held here for the first time next week, offers a chance for the public to dispose of unwanted or expired drugs in a safe setting.

“What we’re looking for are prescription medications,” explained Lt. Jim Armbrister of the Mount Airy Police Department, which will conduct the operation on March 17 in the upper parking area of Wal-Mart from 2 to 6 p.m.

“We’ll have a tent and a booth set up there to collect medicines that people drop off,” Armbrister said of the local event that’s part of a statewide initiative sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and State Bureau of Investigation. The Surry County Sheriff’s Office is expected to participate in Operation Medicine Drop as well.

“The bottom line is to reduce availability of prescription medicines that are unused or expired to keep them out of the hands of those who might take them,” Armbrister said. Along with medications that are outdated, Operation Medicine Drop represents an opportunity to dispose of drugs that might have been prescribed to deceased relatives, organizers say.

Biohazard materials or medical accessories such as “sharps” — which include needles — will not be taken, Armbrister said.

Besides law enforcement, members of the local pharmacy and medical communities are expected to be on hand to assist with the collection and provide brochures and other information to the public on related issues.

The police presence is required because controlled substances will be involved; officers will be on hand to provide security and make sure drugs are “immediately” disposed of properly, Armbrister said.

Medications can be dropped off in an anonymous manner, according to the police spokesman. “No one will be asked any questions as to why they are there.” Also, personal information will not be compiled.

In addition to curtailing prescription drug abuse, the Operation Medicine Drop initiative seeks to prevent cases of accidental poisonings. Next week’s take-back event will coincide with the observance of “National Poison Prevention Week” from March 14-20.

The Northwest Piedmont division of Safe Kids North Carolina also is involved with the program. Part of that organization’s mission is preventing accidental injury.

Combined with their potential for poisonings, overdoses and drug interactions, prescription drugs also are a problem due to often being targeted by thieves during break-ins.

Problem Is “Epidemic”

Nationally, prescription drug abuse has been labeled an “epidemic” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The national concern also is reflected locally, according to Justin Wagoner, the chief narcotics officer for the Mount Airy Police Department.

Although authorities here are targeting dangerous street substances such as methamphetamine and cocaine, as evidenced by widespread arrests in February, Wagoner called abuse of prescription medications the “number one problem” in the community regarding drugs.

In a four-month period that ended in January, city police seized 274.5 dosage units of pills from the streets, Wagoner added.

The threat not only involves people abusing drugs themselves, but their sales of them to others.

Common culprits related to access by children are prescription medications such as narcotics and anti-depressants, and over-the-counter items including cough and cold medicine, antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs.

For adults, the largest risk is posed by misuse and overuse of narcotic pain medications.

After next week’s collection effort, some local initiatives could be in the works later to continue meeting the program’s goal, according to Armbrister.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.