WHAT

Clark and Skamania County residents can safely dispose of all unused prescription and over the counter medications at five free collection events. All unwanted medications (controlled and non-controlled) will be accepted at each event location. Sharps and syringes will ONLY be accepted at the Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park event location.

WHERE

All events will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28th, at:

• PeaceHealth Southwest Urgent Care, 33rd & Main (S. Back Lot), Vancouver
• Kaiser Permanente Cascade Park, 12607 SE Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver
• Battle Ground Police Department, 507 SW 1st St., Battle Ground
• Washougal Silver Star Search & Rescue, 1220 A St., Washougal
• Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, 200 NW Vancouver Ave., Stevenson

WHY

Seventy-one percent of all drug poisoning deaths in Clark County are opioid related, according to data pulled earlier this year by Clark County Public Health. And seventy-five percent of all opioid poisoning deaths are prescription opioid related, which increased about 16 percentage points since 2013 (from 59%). Safe medicine take-back programs, like those scheduled on April 28th, get potentially dangerous leftover drugs out of our homes.

WHO

The April 28th collection event is organized thanks to a community partnership including Clark County Public Health, Kaiser Permanente, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Battle Ground Police Department, La Center Police Department, Ridgefield Police Department, Vancouver Police Department, Washougal Police Department, Washougal Silver Star Search and Rescue, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office, Walgreens, Connect Evergreen, La Center United, Prevent Coalition, Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance, Unite! Washougal Community Coalition, Connect Evergreen, West Van for Youth, One Prevention Alliance and U.S. Dept. of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.