From: Burke County Sheriff’s Office
Contact: Sheriff Steve E. Whisenant
Tel: (828) 438-5508
Fax: (828) 438-5469
email: admin@burkesheriff.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Burke Community Receives Support for Two Permanent Prescription Pill Drop Boxes
Two permanent prescription drug drop boxes will be dedicated to the community Friday
morning, October 26th, at the Morganton Community House. During the regularly scheduled
breakfast meeting of Burke Substance Abuse Network, which open to the public, Sheriff
Steve Whisenant, members of the Burke Narcotics Task Force, and the Burke County Health
Department will recognize community sponsors of the boxes and describe guidelines around
using the drop boxes.
Born out of a need to curb the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, this initiative
allows residents to deposit unwanted, expired, or unused prescription drugs at secure
locations. Mailbox style-disposal drop boxes will be installed and monitored 24 hours a day,
seven days a week at the Burke County Sheriff’s office and at the Valdese Police
Department.
Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant provides important background information:
Substance abuse and property crimes have a direct correlation. The Sheriff’s Office
Criminal Investigation Division estimates that over 90% of all property crime
(breaking and entering and larcenies) are committed by substance abusers. The N.C.
Attorney General’s Office reported a 400% increase in prescription related crimes in
the past five years.
The Sheriff’s Office has been implementing proactive measures to reduce substance abuse
and property crimes. One of the Sheriff’s Office’s proactive measures has been to partner
with the Burke County Narcotics Task Force and the Burke County Health Department in
obtaining these drop boxes. This need was recognized with the implementation of “medicine
Burke Co. Pill Drop Boxes, Page 2
drops” where the Burke Co. Narcotics Task Force, the Burke County Health Department and
the Burke County Sheriff’s Office began collecting unwanted prescriptions at specific
locations. The following dosage units were collected: 8,000 in 2010; 34,956 in March 2011;
97,137 in Oct. 2011; and 105,253 in March of 2012.
About 70% of unintentional prescription drug overdoses are caused by the use of drugs that
were either offered by, purchased or stolen from a friend or family member. The drop boxes
are offer residents a safe, legal way to dispose of their medications before they fall into the
wrong hands.
Once installed, residents should follow a few simple guidelines. Medications should be
dropped off in their original, labeled, plastic containers, if possible, or in sealed plastic bags
to keep them together. Neither glass containers nor liquids are approved for drop off.
Community sponsors for the drop boxes include Burke Primary Care; NC Safe Kids-Burke
County; Burke Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency; Table Rock Pharmacy;
Burke Pharmacy; Clinic Drug; Sheriff Steve E. Whisenant; Jones Drugs; Drexel Discount
Drug; Dr. John Freeman; State Farm Insurance (Karin Cook); Mr. Cecil Huffman; Comfort
Inn and Suites of Morganton; Accent Signs and Graphics.
The dedication ceremony will be hosted by Burke Substance Abuse Network (BSAN) on
Friday, October 26, 2012 at the Morganton Community House, 120 N. King Street
Morganton. The free breakfast will begin at 7:30am with the dedication following. Those
interested in attending are asked to reserve a seat for themselves and their guests by calling
(828) 433-1221 or by emailing bcacddirector@gmail.com.
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