OSFM Press Releases

Commissioner Causey to Highlight Declining Drug Overdose Rates in Stanly County

clredick — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:09:30 +0000

Commissioner Causey to Highlight Declining Drug Overdose Rates in Stanly County

Release Date

Wed, 04/13/2022 - 12:00

clredick Wed, 04/13/2022 - 12:09

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will highlight declining drug overdose rates during an Operation Medicine Drop event in Stanly County on Thursday, April 14.

The commissioner will also distribute surplus line checks to seven fire or rescue departments as he travels to Richmond, Stanly and Montgomery counties during three scheduled stops throughout the day.

These checks are the result of contributions made by Lloyd’s of London to help firefighters and rescue squads in North Carolina.

“Due to the combined efforts of the county health department, local emergency responders and law enforcement, drug overdose rates are on the decline in Stanly County, bucking the trend of increases in other areas. We are proud to acknowledge that work,” Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, said. “It is also an honor for me to personally be able to present these surplus line checks, courtesy of Lloyds of London. This money will help needy fire departments to better protect their communities.”

The media is invited to attend and cover these events.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Thursday, April 14:

9:30 a.m. – Rockingham Fire Department

231 S. Lawrence Street, Rockingham, N.C. 28379

(Rockingham Fire Department will receive its ISO rating and the rescue squads in Ellerbe, Hamlet and Richmond County will receive NC Surplus Lines checks)

11 a.m. – Stanly County Commons

1000 North First Street, Albemarle, N.C. 28001

(Commissioner Causey will participate in an Operation Medicine Drop event and present NC Surplus Lines checks to the county’s rescue unit)

2 p.m. – Montgomery County Communications Center

199 South Liberty Street Troy, N.C. 27371

(Commissioner Causey will present NC Surplus Lines checks to the Montgomery County Rescue Squad, the Wadeville Volunteer Fire Department and the Anson County Rescue Squad)

Operation Medicine Drop Prescription drug take-back event Wednesday in Raleigh

clredick — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 18:13:38 +0000

Operation Medicine Drop Prescription drug take-back event Wednesday in Raleigh

Release Date

Tue, 03/22/2022 - 12:00

clredick Tue, 03/22/2022 - 14:13

Media Availability at 11:00 a.m.

RALEIGH – Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chair Mike Causey invites the public to drop off their unused medication at our Operation Medicine Drop prescription drug take back event in Raleigh on Wednesday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The goal of Operation Medicine Drop is to make sure unused or expired medication can be properly disposed of and kept out of the wrong hands.

Dangerous prescription pills and medication could not only hurt our loved ones but wind up in our water system if not disposed of properly.

An average of four people per day are dying from an overdose in North Carolina with 79% of those deaths involving some type of opioid. Due, in part to take-back events like these, the number of overdoses has decreased in the last few years.

Operation Medicine Drop (OMD) is a FREE drug take-back program that gives people a safe and secure way to dispose of unwanted over-the counter and prescription medications.

Since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop campaigns have successfully incinerated more than 266 million pills collected through permanent drop boxes and more than 4,000 events across North Carolina.

Here are the details for Wednesday’s event:

WHO:

Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chair Mike Causey, State Capitol Police, Safe Kids N.C. Director Barry Overman

WHAT:

Prescription Drug Take-Back event (Operation Medicine Drop)

WHERE:

N.C. Department of Insurance -- Albemarle Building

325 N. Salisbury Street

Raleigh, N.C. 27603

WHEN:

Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Media availability at 11 a.m.

WHY:

Operation Medicine Drop aims to keep unused drugs out of the wrong hands and out of our water and environment.

To assure safety, the OMD event in Raleigh will have drive-through options with social distancing in accordance with COVID-19 precautions.

About Safe Kids North Carolina

Safe Kids North Carolina is dedicated to preventing childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in North Carolina.

Operation Medicine Drop fights opioid epidemic with statewide take-back events during National Poison Prevention week

lwall1 — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 21:09:21 +0000

Operation Medicine Drop fights opioid epidemic with statewide take-back events during National Poison Prevention week

Release Date

Fri, 03/18/2022 - 12:00

lwall1 Fri, 03/18/2022 - 17:09

RALEIGH -- In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, which runs March 20-26, Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chair Mike Causey encourages North Carolinians to safely dispose of unused or expired medications at one of the Operation Medicine Drop take-back events or permanent drop boxes around the state.

“Medications are the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths among children,” said Commissioner Causey. “I am touring the state to protect our communities and environment by informing residents about the responsible way to get rid of unused medications so they don’t end up in the wrong hands.”

More than 67,000 children go to an emergency room for medicine poisoning each year, according to a study by Safe Kids Worldwide.

The opioid epidemic is not only a national crisis but a North Carolina crisis as well. An average of four people per day are dying from overdose across the state with 79% of those deaths involving some type of opioid.

Operation Medicine Drop aims to keep unused or expired medications out of the wrong hands and out of our water systems by offering people a place to 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—by incinerating them. Drugs should not be flushed or thrown away in the garbage because they may contaminate water sources.

During National Poison Prevention Week, Commissioner Causey will be at three Operation Medicine Drop drug take back events across the state at the following locations:

Oxford – Monday, March 21, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Oxford Police Department, 204 E. McClanahan St., Oxford. Commissioner Causey will be available to the media at 9 a.m.
Goldsboro – Tuesday, March 22, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Peggy Seegars Senior Center, 2001 E. Ash St., Goldsboro. Commissioner Causey will be available to the media at 10 a.m.
Raleigh – Wednesday, March 23, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. N.C. Department of Insurance – 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh. Commissioner Causey will be available to media at 11 a.m.

Since 2010, Operation Medicine Drop campaigns have successfully incinerated more than 266 million pills collected through permanent drop boxes and more than 4,000 events across North Carolina.

Operation Medicine Drop is a partnership between Safe Kids North Carolina (within the N.C. Department of Insurance), the North Carolina Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the State Bureau of Investigation.

For more information about Operation Medicine Drop including a list of permanent drop-off locations, click here.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw in an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Saturday

lwall1 — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:07:53 +0000

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw in an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Saturday

Release Date

Fri, 04/16/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Fri, 04/16/2021 - 16:07

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and Cabarrus County Sheriff Van Shaw will hold an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Saturday, April 17, at Moose Pharmacy in Mount Pleasant.

Operation Medicine Drop (OMD) events are held throughout the state in an effort to curb the state’s opioid crisis and save lives. The Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office drug take-back event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Commissioner Causey and Sheriff Shaw will be available to the media at 11 a.m.

OMD is a program within the Department of Insurance designed to ensure unused or expired medication is properly disposed of and kept out of the wrong hands. Since the first North Carolina take-back event in 2010, the program has collected more than 232 million pills, supported more than 3,893 events and assisted in the placement of more than 452 drop box locations.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Saturday:

11 a.m. – Moose Pharmacy (Operation Medicine Drop)

8374 W. Franklin St., Mount Pleasant, N.C. 28124

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant in Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Monday

lwall1 — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 20:38:42 +0000

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant in Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Monday

Release Date

Fri, 04/16/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Fri, 04/16/2021 - 16:38

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and Burke County Sheriff Steve Whisenant will hold an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Monday, April 19, at the Burke County Chamber of Commerce in Morganton.

Operation Medicine Drop (OMD) events are held throughout the state in an effort to curb the state’s opioid crisis and save lives. The Burke County Sheriff’s Office drug take-back event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Commissioner Causey and Sheriff Whisenant will be available to the media at 11 a.m.

Earlier in the day, Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will distribute ceremonial grant checks to rescue squads in Caldwell and Burke counties. Four Caldwell County rescue squads will receive checks totaling more than $33,000. One Burke County rescue squad will receive a check totaling more than $10,000.

The grants are part of a $1.6 million statewide program to help 120 local rescue squads purchase needed equipment.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Monday:

9 a.m. – Caldwell County Emergency Services (Rescue grants)

2345 Morganton Blvd., Lenoir, N.C. 28645

10 a.m. – Salem Community Fire and Rescue (Rescue grant)

1315 Salem Road, Morganton, N.C. 28655

11 a.m. – Burke County Chamber of Commerce (Operation Medicine Drop)

110 E. Meeting St., Morganton, N.C. 28655

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon in drug take-back event on Wednesday

lwall1 — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 21:25:30 +0000

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon in drug take-back event on Wednesday

Release Date

Tue, 04/13/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Tue, 04/13/2021 - 17:25

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and New Hanover County Sheriff Ed McMahon will hold an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Wednesday, April 14, at the New Hanover County Detention Facility in Castle Hayne.

Operation Medicine Drop events are held throughout the state in an effort to curb the state’s opioid crisis and save lives. The New Hanover Sheriff’s office OMD event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Commissioner Causey and Sheriff McMahon will have a media availability at 11 a.m.

Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will present SAVE Awards to Wilmington firefighters Eli Venecia and Josh Gibson, who were credited with saving the life of a 6-month-old in January when they properly installed a child seat in a car that was later totaled in a car crash.

Save Awards are presented to individuals or groups that go beyond the call of duty.

Commissioner Causey will also present awards to Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Programs in Pender and New Hanover counties for their efforts in helping Medicare beneficiaries in those counties.

During a stop at the Union Rescue Squad in Pender County, Commissioner Causey will deliver a $13,875 ceremonial check. The grant is a part of a statewide $1.6 million program assisting 120 rescue squads.

Commissioner Causey will also visit a child passenger safety training class.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for the day:

9:15 a.m. – Union Rescue Squad Inc. (Grant presentation)

8590 N.C. 11, Willard, N.C. 28478

10:00 a.m. – Pender Adult Services (SHIIP award)

901 S. Walker St., Burgaw, N.C. 28425

11:00 a.m. – New Hanover County Detention Facility (OMD take-back event)

3950 Juvenile Center Road, Castle Hayne, N.C. 28429

11:45 a.m. – New Hanover Senior Resources (SHIIP award)

2222 S. College Road, Wilmington, N.C. 28403

1:30 p.m. – Wilmington Fire Department Station 3 (Visit child passenger safety class)

114 Cinema Drive, Wilmington, N.C.28403

2 p.m. – Wilmington Fire Department Station 2 (SAVE Award)

3403 Park Ave., Wilmington, N.C. 28403

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes in an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Tuesday

lwall1 — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:44:56 +0000

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to join Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes in an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Tuesday

Release Date

Mon, 03/29/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Mon, 03/29/2021 - 16:44

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes will hold an Operation Medicine Drop drug take-back event Tuesday, March 30, at the Township 7 Fire Department in New Bern.

Operation Medicine Drop events are held throughout the state in an effort to curb the state’s opioid crisis and save lives. The Craven County Sheriff’s Office (OMD) drug take-back event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. Commissioner Causey and Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes will address the media at 11 a.m.

Commissioner Causey, who is also the State Fire Marshal, will also present a SAVE Award to the New Bern Fire Department, distribute a ceremonial grant check to a rescue squad and thank child passenger safety technicians for their work while receiving required training.

SAVE Awards are presented to individuals or groups that go beyond the call of duty. As a result of the New Bern Fire Department’s annual fire inspection program, four residents in a boarding home escaped an early morning fire because the firefighters ensured their smoke alarm was properly working.

Commissioner Causey will start the day by distributing a $24,900 ceremonial grant check to the Township 9 Fire & Rescue Squad. The grant is part of a $1.6 million statewide program to help 120 local rescue squads purchase needed equipment.

During the visit, Commissioner Causey will also meet with building inspectors to discuss his initiatives and provide an opportunity for inspectors to ask questions.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Tuesday:

9:30 a.m. -- No. 9 Township Fire & Rescue (Rescue grant)

3783 N.C. 55 West, New Bern, N.C. 28562

10:15 a.m. -- Craven County Building Inspectors office (Conference Room)

2828 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, N.C. 28562

11 a.m. -- No. 7 Township Fire Department (Operation Medicine Drop)

1705 Old Cherry Point Road, New Bern, N.C. 28564

1:15 p.m. -- New Bern Fire Department (Child Passenger Safety Class)

1401 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, N.C. 28563

1:30 p.m. -- New Bern Fire and Rescue (SAVE Award)

1401 Neuse Blvd., New Bern, N.C. 28563

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey takes smoke alarm campaign to Cumberland, Sampson counties on Thursday

lwall1 — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:32:41 +0000

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey takes smoke alarm campaign to Cumberland, Sampson counties on Thursday

Release Date

Wed, 03/17/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Wed, 03/17/2021 - 15:32

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey will continue his campaign to get smoke alarms in North Carolina homes as he distributes the life-saving alarms to fire departments in Cumberland and Sampson counties on Thursday, March 18.

Commissioner Causey, who is the State Fire Marshal, will also make a stop at a Fayetteville Operation Medicine Drop site, where residents can properly dispose of unused prescriptions so that they won’t end up in the wrong hands. Commissioner Causey and Cumberland County Sheriff Ennis Wright will have a joint media availability to discuss the Operation Medicine Drop program during the 10 a.m. stop at the Cumberland County Fire Marshal’s Office.

During the afternoon, Commissioner Causey will distribute more than $81,000 in ceremonial grant checks to Sampson County rescue squads.

“Everyone should have working smoke alarms in their homes because smoke alarms save lives,” Commissioner Causey said in boosting a canvassing campaign by fire departments across the state. “Smoke alarms cut the chances of someone dying in a fire in half. It’s important that people have smoke alarms installed in their homes and that the alarms are working properly.”

Statewide, more than 3,500 smoke alarms will go to 66 local fire departments. Firefighters will then canvass neighborhoods and help residents make sure their alarms are properly installed and in working order. If needed, the local fire department will install a smoke alarm for residents in their community.

The rescue grants going to Sampson County rescue squads are part of a state grant program that distributed more than $1.6 million to 120 rescue squads.

Here is Commissioner Causey’s public schedule for Thursday:

9 a.m. – Westarea Volunteer Fire Department (Smoke alarm distribution)

8716 E. Reeves Bridge Road, Linden, N.C. 28356

10 a.m. – Cumberland County Fire Marshal’s Office (Operation Medicine Drop and media availability)

131 Dick St., Fayetteville, N.C. 28301

10:45 a.m. – Vander Volunteer Fire Department (Smoke alarm distribution)

3509 Clinton Road, Fayetteville, N.C. 28312

(Bethany Rural Fire Department will receive smoke alarms)

11:45 a.m. – Stoney Point Fire Department #19 (Lunch and smoke alarm distribution)

2190 Lake Upchurch Drive, Parkton, N.C. 28371

(Cotton and Hope Mills fire departments will receive smoke alarms)

2 p.m. – Sampson County Emergency Management Center (Rescue grants and smoke alarm distribution)

107 Underwood Road, Clinton, N.C. 28328

Operation Medicine Drop Prescription Drug Take Back Event Friday in Raleigh

lwall1 — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 16:59:46 +0000

Operation Medicine Drop Prescription Drug Take Back Event Friday in Raleigh

Release Date

Wed, 03/03/2021 - 12:00

lwall1 Wed, 03/03/2021 - 11:59

Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chair Mike Causey invites the public to drop off their unused medication at our Operation Medicine Drop prescription drug take back event in Raleigh on Friday, March 5 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The goal of Operation Medicine Drop is to make sure unused or expired medication can be properly disposed of and kept out of the wrong hands.

With many families spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a very important time to remove unwanted drugs from the home.

Dangerous prescription pills and medication could not only hurt our loved ones but wind up in our water system if not disposed of properly.

Operation Medicine Drop (OMD) is a FREE drug take-back program that gives people a safe and secure way to dispose of unwanted over-the counter and prescription medications.

Since the first NC drug take-back event in 2010 the program has:

Collected more than 232 million pills
Supported over 3,893 events
Assisted in the placement of over 452 drop box locations

Here are the details for Friday’s event:

WHO:

Insurance Commissioner and Safe Kids N.C. Chair Mike Causey, Safe Kids N.C. Director Shannon Bullock

WHAT:

Prescription Drug Take-Back event (Operation Medicine Drop)

WHERE:

Albemarle Building

325 N. Salisbury Street

Raleigh, N.C. 27603

WHEN:

Friday, March 5, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Media availability at 11:00 a.m.

WHY:

Prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of injury death – for the first time, it surpasses motor vehicle deaths. Operation Medicine Drop aims to keep unused drugs out of the wrong hands and out of our water and environment.

To assure safety, the OMD event in Raleigh will have drive-through options with social distancing in accordance with COVID-19 precautions.

About Safe Kids North Carolina

Safe Kids North Carolina is dedicated to preventing childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in North Carolina. For more information, contact Director Shannon Bullock at 919.647.0081 or Shannon.Bullock@ncdoi.gov.

Commissioner Mike Causey to host Operation Medicine Drop take-back event, present SAVE award during visit to Mecklenburg County

lwall1 — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:17:45 +0000

Commissioner Mike Causey to host Operation Medicine Drop take-back event, present SAVE award during visit to Mecklenburg County

Release Date

Wed, 10/21/2020 - 12:00

lwall1 Mon, 10/19/2020 - 13:17

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey invites the public to drop off their unused or expired medication at an Operation Medicine Drop (OMD) prescription drug take-back event in Pineville on Thursday, October 22. The event's goal is to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands to prevent overdose or injury.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.at Carolina Place Mall’s main entrance, 11025 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville, N.C. Commissioner Causey will address the media at 11:00 a.m.

The Commissioner will also present a SAVE Award on a visit to the Pineville Volunteer Fire Department. Details on this award are embargoed until the visit on Thursday morning.

Here is the Commissioner's schedule for the day:

9:30 a.m. -- Tom Harmon State Farm Insurance Agency

7825 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Ste. 220, Charlotte, N.C. 28277

10:00 a.m. -- Hull & Company Insurance Agency

11405 North Community House Rd., Charlotte, N.C. 28277

11:00 a.m. -- Operation Medicine Drop

Carolina Place Mall -- Main Entrance

11025 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville, N.C. 28134

11:30 a.m. -- Pineville Volunteer Fire Department

108 Church St., Pineville, N.C. 28134

SAVE Award presentation

12:30 p.m.-- Darin Morton Insurance Agency

618 Main St., Pineville N.C. 28134