Mount Airy Police Chief it theoretically represented This is among steps im- Dale Watson said Thursday the disposal volume on an plemented to combat a ma- he believes the new drop- annual scale. Though rid of prescription pills on a and produce deadly conse- a single, one-day event in 24-7 basis, since the lobby quences.

ing the problem is reduc- The 13,850 pills taken in The presence of the con- ing the available supply of to date are more than half tainer, an old postal recep- pills, thereby lessening the the 26,350 collected last tacle converted for its new chances for them to wind spring during Operation use, allows the public to get up in the wrong hands Medicine Drop. pleased with the outcome of unwanted medications One of the keys to attack- so far.” anonymously. We’re very by for the public to dispose hospitals. said, the total is unclear be- off.” That is the total logged cause federal privacy regu- Watson added, “The fact for just a few weeks, since lations make it dificult to that the numbers are what a special drop-box was in- document those who might they are shows there is a stalled in the station’s lob- have died in out-of-county public interest. “They’re is represented among the deaths are known to have very open to coming in to 13,850 pills received at the occurred locally, Shelton the police station to drop it Mount Airy police station. of the medication disposal every color, size or shape While more than 30 by local citizens. The bags are bulging ing to John Shelton, the “We’re very pleased with with red, white and green county’s director of emer- the progress of it,” he said ones - in fact, virtually gency services. 132, Issue 013 FRIDAY, JANU50 cents daily/$1.50 Sunday More than 13,000 pills dropped at police station Tom Joyce least 30 or more” overdose the dangers of prescription staf reporter deaths among Surry Coun- drugs, is making a differ- tians in 2011 alone, accord- ence in the supply chain. INSIDE STORY WEATHER SPORTS ONLINE lawyers argue fate of new state redis- windy and cloudy cards rally without subscribe to the e-edition tricting law. polls & more The Mount Airy News Serving Surry County since 1880.The Mount Airy News Serving Surry County Since 1880

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