A special Drug Take Back Day will offer North Olympic Peninsula residents an opportunity to dispose of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The service is free and anonymous — with no questions asked.
Intravenous syringes, medical waste and liquids will not be accepted.
The four collection sites are:
• Clallam County Courthouse parking lot at 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
• Sequim Police Department at 152 W. Cedar St., Sequim.
• Chinook Pharmacy, 11 S. Forks Ave., in Forks.
• Safeway parking lot, 442 W. Sims Way, Port Townsend.
Personnel from the Port Angeles and Sequim police departments and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office will be on hand to collect the drugs in Clallam County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will not participate in the annual National Drug Take Back Day sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency because it collects prescription medication during normal business hours year-round, said Capt. Ben Stamper.
At the Safeway parking lot, Chimacum Prevention Coalition representatives will host the state Department of Health & Social Services’ (DSHS) “Starts with One” opioid prevention campaign.
DSHS’ program follows the same guidelines as the DEA’s.
Drugs collected in Clallam County will be taken to an undisclosed location where they will be vaporized by a pollution-free high-temperature incineration, according to Borte.
Each person dropping off prescription drugs or medications is asked to use a black ink pen or felt tip marker to cross off his or her name, address and other identifying information on the label of the container.
Returning prescription drugs can thwart thieves who use the drugs themselves or sell them, Borte said.
Prescription drugs should never be flushed down the toilet or sink drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs users to do so, the Sequim Police Department said in a news release.
Opportunities for disposal of unwanted prescription drugs are available year-round.
Unwanted prescription medication can be taken to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 79 Elkins Road in Port Hadlock between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The office accepts in a secure lockbox only prescription medications in pill, capsule or caplet form.
No vitamins, supplements, liquids or aerosol devices are accepted because the drugs are incinerated.
Likewise, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Sequim Police Department collect unwanted medication in secure drop boxes in their lobbies during normal business hours.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, which operates a shared drug-takeback program with Port Angeles police, is in the main floor of the courthouse.
The office is open weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., except for holidays.
The Sequim Police Department accepts drugs between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Residents also can dispose of unused medications, with the exception of controlled substances and liquids, at Jim’s Pharmacy, 424 E. Second St. in Port Angeles, during regular store hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
