RALEIGH -- Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey encourages North Carolinians to safely dispose of unused or expired medications during National Poison Prevention Week, March 19-25, 2017, at one of the Operation Medicine Drop events around the state.

"I am happy to partner with various law enforcement and Safe Kids coalitions across North Carolina to keep medicines and prescription drugs out of the wrong hands," said Causey. "Medications should always be locked out of reach of children, and when medicines are no longer needed, they should be disposed of in a safe way."

Medications are the leading cause of child poisoning, with more than 64,000 children going to an emergency room for medicine poisoning each year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide. That's one child every eight minutes.

During Operation Medicine Drop events, people can drop off over-the-counter drugs, prescriptions, samples and pet medications with no questions asked. Law enforcement partners will help dispose of the medications in the same secure way they dispose of other drug items. Drugs should not be flushed or thrown away in the garbage because they may contaminate water sources.

A partnership of the N.C. Department of Insurance's Safe Kids North Carolina program, the State Bureau of Investigation, Riverkeepers Alliance and other agencies, Operation Medicine Drop events have retrieved and destroyed approximately 89 million doses of medications at 2,000 events since 2010.

To help prevent poisonings when taking care of children, follow these tips:

Store and lock all medicines and household cleaning products in cabinets out of the reach and sight of children.

Keep children where you can see them at all times, even when you go to answer the door or telephone. Never leave young children alone.

Do not leave poisons on a counter or in an unlocked cabinet.

Never carry something that can be poisonous, such as a medicine, in a purse where children may find it.

Place safety latches on drawers or cabinets, and child-resistant caps on bottles, to keep poisons out of the hands of children.

Clean out your medicine cabinets of all unused and expired medications, and bring them to an Operation Medicine Drop event or permanent drop box near you for proper disposal.

To find an Operation Medicine Drop event or permanent medication drop box near you, go to www.ncsafekids.org.