Special to Iredell Free News

The Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell (DACI) and Iredell Health System have formed a partnership with the Mooresville Police Department and Statesville Police Department to implement Syringe Safe Iredell, a collaborative effort to ensure the safe disposal of needles, syringes, and other sharps for residents.

Syringe Safe Iredell was created as a result of law enforcement partners finding needles and other sharps discarded in DACI-sponsored medication drop boxes, due to no safe sharps disposal locations or free take-back programs for them in Iredell County. The Mooresville Police Department, located at 750 W. Iredell Avenue, will be one of three permanent disposal locations, along with Iredell Memorial Hospital, 557 Brookdale Drive in Statesville, and the Statesville Police Department, 330 South Tradd Street in Statesville. 

“Millions of people and pets use syringes every day to manage medical conditions,” said Dan Miglin, a detective at the Mooresville Police Department. “Used syringes pose serious health risks when not disposed of properly. The installation of these sharps containers near our drop boxes will give residents a location to safely dispose of these items and significantly reduce the biohazardous risks to our staff, our community and our environment.”

First Collection event scheduled for September 9

Syringe Safe Iredell’s first collection event will be held at the Statesville Civic Center, 300 South Center Street, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9. This drive-through event will also include a medication take-back opportunity, and a medication lock box giveaway. For more information about this event, email info@daciredell.org or call 704-880-3350.