VANCOUVER, WA (October 28, 2024) – More than 760 residents in Clark and Klickitat counties safely dropped off a total of 2.574 pounds of unused medications and syringes during a multi-site drug take-back event on Saturday, October 26th.
The medication disposal event was held at six locations in two Southwest Washington counties and was organized by a committee of local youth substance use prevention coalitions, law enforcement agencies, clinics, pharmacies, community partners, and volunteers. The event sites were hosted by PeaceHealth Memorial Campus, Walgreens Cascade Park, Battle Ground Police Department, Washougal Police Department, La Center Police Department, and Klickitat County Court House.
“We had a good turnout for the events across our region,” said Kelley Groen-Sieckmann, community prevention project coordinator with Central Vancouver Coalition and ESD 112. “It is always inspiring to see members of the community committed to disposing of medicine properly, which in turn keeps these potentially dangerous substances out of the environment and our waterways. It also protects their children and families from the potential risks of accidental poisonings, overdose, or misuse, which can lead to prescription drug addiction,” explained Groen-Sieckmann.
All discarded medications were secured in boxes and transported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for incineration.
Drug take-back events have been organized by prevention coalitions and law enforcement agencies in Clark County since 2010. The events are now held twice a year (April and October) in multiple counties and in partnership with the Washington State Health Care Authority and DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Since 2010, Drug Take Back Events in Southwest Washington have collected 62,334 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medications and syringes, which is equivalent to the weight of seven elephants.
A huge thank you to the Vancouver Police Department for sponsoring the Columbian newspaper advertising and to Unite! Washougal for sponsoring the Camas Post Record newspaper advertising for the October 26th Drug Take Back Events.
For those who missed Saturday’s drug take-back event, unwanted medications and sharps/syringes can be disposed of year-round at several collection sites across Southwest Washington. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including controlled substances such as painkillers and tranquilizers, can be taken to participating law enforcement agencies and pharmacies for safe, free disposal. Sharps and syringes can be disposed of for free at local participating transfer and recovery centers. Visit www.medtakebackwashington.org to find nearby collection sites that accept medicine for safe, free disposal or to order pre-paid postage envelopes to dispose of medicine by mail. Do not pour medicine down the drain, flush it, or throw it in the trash, as it could be taken by someone for whom it wasn’t prescribed, and it can pollute the environment and our drinking water.
ABOUT CENTRAL VANCOUVER COALITION:
Supported by the fiscal agent ESD 112, the Central Vancouver Coalition was founded in 2018 to build a healthier Central Vancouver community and is a part of the Washington State Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery’s Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. The Coalition seeks to reduce and prevent youth substance use by building an inclusive, resilient, connected community through awareness, education, and collaboration. Members of the Coalition include representatives from Vancouver Public Schools, Vancouver Police Department, Clark County Public Health, chemical dependency professionals, youth, mental health professionals, parents, non-profits, youth-serving organizations, the business sector, faith communities, and more. To get involved or to learn more, go to www.centralvancoalition.org.
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Community substance misuse prevention coalitions, law enforcement agencies, and medical providers in Southwest Washington are collaborating to host drive‐thru drug take‐back events at five different locations across Clark County on Saturday, October 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Community members are encouraged to bring their unused and expired prescriptions and over‐the‐counter medications for safe, free disposal to any one of the following drive-thru event sites.
Clark County Drive-Thru Event Locations:
- PeaceHealth Memorial Campus ‐ 33rd & Main (south back lot), Vancouver
- Walgreens Cascade Park - 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
- Battle Ground Police Department ‐ 507 SW 1st St., Battle Ground
- Washougal Police Department ‐ 1320 A St., Washougal
- La Center Police Department - 105 W 5th St., La Center
All prescription and over‐the‐counter medications including pills, liquids, and inhalers will be accepted at any of the drive‐thru disposal events. Medications not in original containers will also be accepted. Removal of personal information on medication labels or packaging is not required for disposal at the event sites.
Please note that the Peacehealth Memorial Campus and Walgreens Cascade Park event sites are the only locations accepting sharps and syringes for disposal from noncommercial sources only. Additionally, all event sites will collect vape pens and e‐cigarettes without batteries for disposal.
Community‐based medicine take‐back events and year-round disposal programs are the only safe and most environmentally protective way to dispose of medication. Medicine should never be flushed or thrown in the trash as it pollutes the environment and waterways, puts kids and pets at risk for accidental ingestion and poisonings, and could be retrieved and misused by someone it wasn’t prescribed for.
Kelley Groen‐Sieckmann, Community Prevention Project Coordinator with the Central Vancouver Coalition and ESD 112 said that take back events are meant to promote safe medication disposal and encourage community members to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a standard practice for preventing prescription drug misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting, reducing the risk for accidental ingestion or poisonings, and preventing medication from ending up in landfills and our drinking water.
“Statistics show that 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them – usually taken from a friend or family member, and each year over 60,000 children under age six end up in emergency rooms from accidentally ingesting medication,” explains Groen‐Sieckmann. “However, simple steps like properly disposing of medications and storing medicine in a locked location, can help prevent accidental poisonings, prescription drug misuse, and overall decrease the spread of the opioid problem we are seeing in our region and across the country,” she added.
Medicine take‐back events in Clark County are funded in partnership by Washington State Health Care Authority, law enforcement, community organizations, and youth substance misuse prevention coalitions. For more info about the event, visit bit.ly/swwadrugtakeback. If you’re unable to make it to the October 26th event, you can find year-round medicine disposal sites or order free envelopes to dispose of medicine by mail at www.medtakebackwashington.org or bit.ly/DEATake-Back. Protect loved ones by taking the pledge to lock your meds and learn about the benefits of storing medication in a locked location at www.LocksSaveLives.org.
ABOUT CENTRAL VANCOUVER COALITION:
Supported by the fiscal agent ESD 112, Central Vancouver Coalition is a Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative coalition formed in 2018 to reduce and prevent youth substance use by building an inclusive, resilient and connected community through awareness, education, and collaboration. As a community mobilizer, we promote resilience and growth through community and strive to create a culture promoting healthy choices; advocating for initiatives and policies that protect, empower and nurture youth; and facilitating positive opportunities for youth to be involved and thrive. For more info, visit www.centralvancoalition.org.
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