High Country residents are encouraged to clean out their medicine cabinets for Operation Medicine Drop to be held Saturday in Boone.

Unintentional poisoning from prescription medication is on the rise in North Carolina. Since 1999, nearly 4,500 people have died.

Safe Kids Watauga County Coalition, Watauga Medics, Blowing Rock Fire Department, Boone Fire Department, Watauga Rescue, the Children's Council and local law enforcement agencies have teamed up for the medicine drop to provide a free and convenient option to dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications to keep them out of the wrong hands.

The event will be held Saturday, March 20, from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. at Beef  'O' Brady's, Food Lion, Golden Corral and Walmart in the Watauga Village Shopping Center on Blowing Rock Road.

Operation Medicine Drop cannot accept biohazard materials.