Southwest Washington counties collected nearly 2,600 pounds of unused medications and 281 pounds of syringes Saturday during a twice annual drug take-back event.
More than 780 residents in Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties participated in the event organized by youth substance misuse prevention coalitions, law enforcement agencies, business partners and volunteers, according to the Prevent Coalition. The medications will be sent to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for incineration.
“Despite the weather on Saturday, we had a decent turnout for the events across our region,” said Kelley Groen-Sieckmann, community prevention specialist with the Prevent Coalition and Educational Service District 112. “It is always inspiring to see members of the community committed to keeping medications out of the environment and to protecting their children and families from possible misuse and accidental poisoning from prescription and over-the-counter drugs.”
Local prevent coalitions and law enforcement agencies host drug take-back events each year in April and October, in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority and the Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Outside of take-back days, people can dispose of unwanted medications at law enforcement agencies and pharmacies and can dispose of syringes at transfer and recovery centers. Collection sites can be found at med-project.org.
