HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171010_DrugTakeBackPRAlways working for a safer and healthier community
615 Sheridan Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org
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360-385-9400 360-385-9444
360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487
October 11, 2017
For Immediate Release
Jefferson County Community Health
Dr. Denise Banker, PhD
360.385.9400
Dispose Unused or Expired Medications
at Port Hadlock's Parking Lot
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Port Townsend – Jefferson County Public Health reminds
everyone that the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take
Back Day is Saturday, October 28th. Turn in your unused
or expired prescription medications for safe disposal at at
Port Hadlock's QFC Parking lot from 10 am - 2 pm.
About National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public
will have its 14th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill
abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially
dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription
drugs. We encourage everyone to clean out medicine
cabinets and bring pills and liquids to the Port Hadlock
QFC parking lot for proper disposal. The service is free
and anonymous, no questions asked. The DEA cannot
accept intra-venous solutions, injectables, syringes,
chemotherapy medications, medical waste, patches,
needles or sharps.
Communities across the nation participate. Other
communities near Port Townsend and Chimacum that are
participating in this year’s take back are Sequim, with a
site at the Police Department; and Coupville, with a site at
the Coupville Town Hall.
Last April Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites
operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its
13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than
4,050 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home
cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the
U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these
drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends,
Always working for a safer and healthier community
Community Health Environmental Health
Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487
including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual
methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the
trash—both pose potential health and safety hazards.
About our local Take Back Day Sponsors
Learn more about The Chimacum Prevention Coalition, along with its partners at the Jefferson County
Sheriff’s Office, the Chimacum School District, and Jefferson County Public Health.
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Jefferson County Public Health
Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Community