VANCOUVER — Over 1,000 Clark and Skamania County residents dropped off their unused and unwanted medications with local law enforcement officers and volunteers on Sat., April 29.
The medicine disposal event was held at four locations throughout Clark and Skamania counties where a steady stream of cars waited to hand over prescription and other medications. Cascade Park Kaiser Permanente was the busiest location, serving 425 participants and bringing in 1,226 pounds of pills. All pills will be transported for incineration by the DEA.
The April 29 collection event is organized thanks to a community partnership including Battle Ground Police Department, Clark County Public Health, Connect Evergreen, Kaiser Permanente, La Center United, Legacy Hospital, One Prevention Alliance, PeaceHealth, Prevent Coalition, Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, Unite! Washougal Community Coalition, U.S. Dept. of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, Vancouver Police Department, Walgreens.
Prevent Coalition members would like to thank PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Battle Ground Police Department, Skamania Sheriff’s Office, and Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park for hosting the four event sites; Kaiser for purchasing the sharps containers that were handed out to participants; Clark County Public Health and Stericycle for recycling sharps and other collected materials; and all the staff and volunteers who made the event a success.
Unwanted medications also can be disposed of at several collection sites across Clark and Skamania Counties. Controlled substances, such as painkillers and tranquilizers, can be taken to participating law enforcement agencies and participating pharmacies. Non-controlled substances, such as over-the-counter medications, can be taken to local participating pharmacies.
Visit www.takebackyourmeds.org for more details on where to drop off your medications. For more information about the event, call Clark County Public Health at (360) 397-2121 ext. 4352, or contact the Prevent Coalition at preventcoalition@esd112.org.
