Clallam County law enforcement agencies — including the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and Port Angeles and Sequim police departments — are participating in the Nationwide Prescription Take-Back Day sponsored by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday.
People can drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the main parking lot of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles., at the Sequim Police Department, 152 W. Cedar St., and at the Chinook Pharmacy at 11 S. Forks Ave.
The sites in the courthouse parking lot and in Forks will be staffed by the Port Angeles Police Department and the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
Prescription drugs also may be dropped off anytime during regular office hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Sequim Police Department or at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office in the county courthouse during regular business hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays.
The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The collection service includes both controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter medications. No questions will be asked and individuals will not be asked for their identification.
Local law enforcement also will accept illegal drugs for destruction; syringes and medical waste, however, will not be accepted, because of potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens.
East Jefferson County sites are at booths in the parking lots at the Port Hadlock QFC at 1890 Irondale Road and the Safeway in Port Townsend at 442 W. Sims Way.
Said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Weis of the Pacific Northwest Region: “All of our Northwest communities need to take this opportunity of disposing unused prescription medications in a safe and simple process. This consciousness effort may be lifesaving.”
Prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the nation, local law enforcement officials say.
Unused, expired and unneeded medicines can be a serious danger to those living in the residence, officials say, particularly for young children and pets, and that such drugs and medications can be stolen, misused and abused by others.
People are reminded not to flush prescription drugs down the toilet or sink drain unless the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs users to do so.
Last October, residents of Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska turned in 35,017 pounds — 17 tons — of prescription medications. Nationwide, Americans turned in 475 tons of prescription drugs at almost 6,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,500 of its state and local law enforcement partners.
Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 8.1 million pounds of pills.
