April 9, 2019
For Immediate Release
Denise Banker
Jefferson County Community Health
(360) 385-9438
Dispose Unused or Expired Medications
at Two Locations: QFC, Port Hadlock and Safeway, Port Townsend
Saturday, April 27th, 2019
Port Townsend – Jefferson County Public Health reminds everyone that the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27th. Turn in your unused or expired prescription medications for safe disposal at Port Hadlock QFC and Safeway in Port Townsend from 10 am - 2 pm.
About National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the public will have its 17th 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 or the Safeway in Port Townsend for proper disposal. Easily accessed booths will be set up in the parking lot at each store so drop by any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. 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. However, Jefferson County Public Health will provide a sharps container on site. Additionally, there is a year round unused prescription medication disposal box at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 79 Elkins Rd., Port Hadlock.
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 Civic Center; and Bainbridge Island, with a site at the police department.
Last October Americans turned in 475 tons (946,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 6,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,500 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 16 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, 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 Empowered Teen Coalition, along with its partners at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Port Townsend Police Department, the Chimacum School District, Port Townsend School District, QFC Port Hadlock, Safeway, Port Townsend, and Jefferson County Public Health.
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Jefferson County Public Health
Always Working for a Safer and Healthier Community
