Medication disposal at New Hanover Regional Medical Center

New Hanover Regional Medical Center hosted a free medication disposal event Saturday.

People were invited to bring their old prescriptions, over the counter medications and even vitamins to be burned in special incinerators.

There are many dangers to keeping old medications in the home. “Children getting into medications that are lying around, pets getting into medications that have been dropped on the floor, or confused elderly maybe taking medications that have been discontinued,” explained event coordinator Kathy Rawlings.

The event was sponsored by the Wilmington Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration, which helped destroy the controlled substances.