Spokane - Joseph H. Harrington, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., is National Prescription Drug “Take Back Day." This event will give the public its 16th opportunity in eight years to prevent pill abuse, diversion, and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Last Spring, Americans nation-wide turned in nearly 475 tons (949,046 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,700 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Of those numbers, Washington State collected 17,018 pounds of prescription drugs at approximately 70 collection sites operated by the DEA and 63 of its state and local law enforcement partners. In its 15 previous “take back" events, Washington State alone has collected 208,433 pounds of prescription drugs. Overall, in its 15 previous “Take Back" events, the DEA and its partners have taken in almost 10 million pounds - nearly 5,000 tons - of pills.
The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Liquids, needles, or sharps cannot be accepted at the sites, only pills or patches.
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. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen 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-pose potential safety and health hazards.
Law enforcement agencies scheduled to participate as collection sites include: Asotin County Sheriff’s Office (Asotin County Fire Department); Colfax Police Department (City Hall); Connell Police Department (Connell City Hall); Kennewick Police Department; Odessa Police Department; Oroville Police Department; Othello Police Department; Pasco Police Department; Garfield County Sheriff’s Office; Pullman Police Department; Ferry County Corrections; Spokane Valley Police Precinct (Chas Health); Walla Walla Police Department; West Richland Police Department; Yakima Police Department (Cornerstone Medical Clinic/Virginia Mason Memorial); and Yakima County Crime Stoppers (Solarity Credit Union)
In the City of Spokane, year-round disposal sites are located at Spokane Police Department’s North Precinct, 5124 N. Market, Monday through Friday, 9:00 - 4:00; the Public Safety Building, 1100 W. Mallon Avenue, Monday through Friday 8:00 - 5:00; and Spokane Police Department’s Downtown Precinct in the Intermodal, 221 W. First, 24 hr/7 days a week. In Spokane County a year-round disposal site is located in the Spokane Valley Police Department lobby, 12710 E. Sprague Avenue, Monday through Friday, 8:00 - 5:00.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs and the Oct. 27, 2018 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
