Safe disposal of expired and unwanted prescription drugs will be offered in Clallam and Jefferson counties on Saturday, which is the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, North Olympic Peninsula sheriff’s offices, as well as the Port Angeles and Sequim police departments, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition will work together to take back prescription drugs in a free, anonymous service.
Pills can be brought for disposal to the Clallam County Courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Vaping pens and cartridges also will be accepted (remove batteries); however, sites cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps — only pills or patches.
The Sequim Police Department will host a drop-off during the same hours on Saturday in the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.
In Port Hadlock, the public can turn in unused or expired prescription medications for safe disposal at Port Hadlock’s QFC parking lot at 1890 Irondale Road.
Also, independently though Med-Project LLC, individuals can drop off their unwanted drugs and medications during the rest of the year at Med-Project kiosks at the Sequim Police Department or at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office in the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles during regular business hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Get more information about Med-Project at med-project.org.
Also, year round, unwanted prescription medication can be taken to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 79 Elkins Road in Port Hadlock between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Drug Take-Back Day allows people to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, according to a press release.
Intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes, chemotherapy medications, medical waste, patches, needles or sharps are not accepted.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, organizers said.
They added that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.
“Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs,” county officials said.
This October’s event will be the DEA’s 25th nationwide event since it began 13 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in a total of 663,725 pounds of prescription drugs at 4,955 collection sites, county officials said.
Get more information about how to properly dispose of prescription drugs at fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.
