OCEAN CITY POLICE COLLECT 26.5 POUNDS OF MEDICATION DURING OPERATION

The Ocean City Police Department’s recent participation in “Operation Medicine Drop” proved to be a success, yielding 26.5 pounds of medicine at the Ocean City location.

Joining officials from the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, Worcester County Health Department, Berlin Police Department and Assateague Coastal Trust/Coastkeeper, a total of 205 lbs of unused and expired medications was collected in Worcester County alone.

Operation Medicine Drop, which took place on October 29, 2011at six different locations in Worcester County, was part of the Fall National Drug Take Back Day. The bi-annual event, which last took place in the spring 2011, is a federal program which unites the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) with state and local law enforcement to encourage citizens to properly dispose of their prescription drugs.

“Operation Medicine Drop is a great opportunity to get unwanted, unused and expired prescription medication out of people’s cabinets and off of the streets,” commented Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. “Not only does this event provide the public with an opportunity to safely dispose of unused medications, but it also keeps unused prescription drugs out of the hands of persons who shouldn’t have them, as well as out of
Maryland coastal bays and waterways.”

The October 29th event, which was the second local effort in Worcester County, saw an increase of over 70 pounds of unused pharmaceuticals since the spring 2011 event.

Worcester County’s “Operation Medicine Drop” partner agencies and groups look forward to a spring event in 2012 and will announce the date and locations as soon as a spring 2012 National Drug Take Back Day is announced by federal agencies.