BERLIN -- Local officials from the Worcester County Sheriff's Office, Worcester County Health Department, Ocean City Police Department, Berlin Police Department and Assateague Coastal Trust/Coastkeeper this week announced the drop off locations for Operation Medicine Drop, a one-day drug take back effort on Saturday April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Worcester County residents are encouraged to bring unwanted, unused, expired over-the-counter and prescription medications to the following drop off locations. Local law enforcement will ensure the medications are safely disposed of to prevent potentially harmful substances from entering our waterways or from being abused, misused, or ingested by small children.

The locations are the Pocomoke Health Center, Snow Hill Health Department, Berlin Police Department, Food Lion in West Ocean City and Ocean Pines and the Ocean City Public Safety Building on 65th Street.

Until recently, consumers have been told to flush unwanted drugs. With technological advances and research, low levels of drugs are being found in surface waters. Recent research by the U.S. Geological Service now confirms that some drugs pass largely unaltered through wastewater treatment plants and enter bays and other waters.