Drug take-back events slated for Saturday in Clark, Skamania counties

Medical providers, law enforcement agencies and community substance-misuse prevention coalitions in Southwest Washington are collaborating to host drive-thru drug take-back events at multiple locations in Clark and Skamania counties from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Community members are encouraged to bring their unused and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications for safe, free disposal.

Take-back events will be located at:

• PeaceHealth Southwest Urgent Care, 33rd and Main (south parking lot), Vancouver.
• Kaiser Permanente Orchards, 7101 N.E. 137th Ave., Vancouver.
• Battle Ground Police Department, 507 S.W. First St., Battle Ground.
• Washougal Police Department, 1320 A St., Washougal.
• Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department, 31501 N.W. 31st Ave., Ridgefield.
• Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, 200 Vancouver Ave., Stevenson.

All prescription and over-the-counter medications including pills, liquids and inhalers will be accepted at any of the locations. Medications not in original containers will be accepted. Removal of personal information on medication labels or packaging is not required for disposal.

PeaceHealth Southwest Urgent Care is the only location accepting sharps and syringes for disposal from noncommercial sources only. Additionally, all sites except the Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department will collect vape pens and e-cigarettes without batteries for disposal.

The event is meant to promote safe medication disposal and to encourage community members to remove unneeded medications from their homes to help prevent prescription drug misuse and opioid addiction, as well as to reduce the risk of accidental ingestion or poisonings and to prevent medication from ending up in landfills and drinking water.

For more information about the events, visit bit.ly/DTBE43022.