Agencies across the North Olympic Peninsula will participate in Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The Nationwide Prescription Take-Back Day is sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In Clallam County, participating law enforcement agencies are the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Port Angeles and Sequim police departments.
Individuals can drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at the Sequim Police Department, 152 W. Cedar St.; the main parking lot of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, and the Chinook Pharmacy, at 11 S. Forks Ave., Forks.
Drugs also can be dropped off any time at the Sequim Police Department during regular office hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and at the Clallam County Courthouse during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In Jefferson County, the Empowered Teens Coalition of Chimacum and Port Townsend is sponsoring the Drug Take Back Day along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Port Townsend Police Department, QFC and Safeway, said Denise Banker, health educator with the county Public Health Department.
Drop-off locations are the QFC at 1890 Irondale Road in Port Hadlock and Safeway at 442 W. Sims Way in Port Townsend.
Banker works with Lindsay Scalf, also a health educator, on the project.
Expired or unused prescription medicines can be taken any time to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 81 Elkin Road, Port Hadlock during regular office hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with an hour for lunch between noon and 1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The office also is open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Individuals may bring controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs, as well as, over the counter (OTC) medications to the collection sites.
Beginning this year, individuals also can drop off vaping pens without the internal batteries. The DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.
As always on Drug Take Back Days, no questions will be asked. People will not be asked for their identification.
Intra-venous solutions, injectables, syringes, or medical waste will not be accepted due to potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens.
This will be the 18th National Drug Take Back Day sponsored by the DEA in cooperation with participating local law enforcement agencies.
