All medication collected at take-back events is weighed, secured in boxes and transported to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for safe incineration
VANCOUVER – On Saturday (Oct. 24), four drug take-back locations were opened to accept unwanted medications. Over 4,600 lbs. of unwanted medications were collected at the Clark County sites.
These events are vital to keeping substances out of the wrong hands and out of our landfills and waterways. All medication collected at take-back events is weighed, secured in boxes and transported to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for safe incineration.
Combined Totals – four Clark County event sites:
• 1,432 total combined participants
• 4,628 total combined lbs. of meds collected
• 710 Total combined lbs. of Sharps/syringes collected
History of Drug Take Back events
Our Drug Take Back Events started in 2010 with one Clark County event site. With support from a Washington State Health Care Authority regional opioid prevention grant, starting in 2017 multiple event sites are held twice annually in April and October and now include partnerships with Law Enforcement and multiple prevention coalitions and community partners throughout the Southwest Washington Region of Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties.
As of Oct. 24, these shared efforts have collected 41,875 pounds of medication from 16,820 total participants, all working together to keep these substances out of the wrong hands and out of our landfills and waterways. All medication collected at take-back events is weighed, secured in boxes and transported to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for safe incineration.
Year-round medication disposal
Unwanted medications can be safely disposed of year-round at several pharmacy collection sites across Southwest Washington. Sharps and syringes can also be taken to local participating transfer and recovery centers for safe and proper disposal. For a list of year-round collection sites in SW Washington open during COVID-19, visit https://www.preventcoalition.org/resources/meds/ or for a list of medication disposal collections sites anywhere in Washington State, visit www.takebackyourmeds.org.
Information provided by Vancouver Police Department.
