PORT TOWNSEND — Sites for East Jefferson County residents to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications will be available in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
The effort is part of the national Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Unwanted prescription medications can be turned in 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.
Nationally, this will the public’s 17th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, Jefferson County Public Health said in a press release.
In both counties, the service is free and anonymous, with no identification required and no questions asked.
The collection service includes both controlled and non-controlled prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter medications.
The DEA cannot accept intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes, chemotherapy medications, medical waste, patches, needles or sharps.
However, Jefferson County Public Health will provide a sharps container on site.
Additionally, a year-round unused prescription medication disposal box is at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 79 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock.
Other communities near Port Townsend and Chimacum that are participating in this year’s take back are Sequim, with a site at the police department at the Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar Ave., and Bainbridge Island at its police station at 625 E. Winslow Way.
Also, in Clallam County, 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 and at the Chinook Pharmacy at 11 S. Forks Ave.
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.
Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners nationwide have taken in more than 8.1 million pounds of pills.
