Auburn joins National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

April 24, 2018 1:30 pm
Auburn joins National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Auburn participates Saturday in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 15th Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an event to prevent pill abuse and theft by educating the public about ridding their homes of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The event is supported by the City of Auburn’s Blue Ribbon Committee for Auburn – the Healthiest City in Washington – 2020.

Residents should bring pills for disposal to local collection sites, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dropoff locations:

• Auburn Police Station, 340 E. Main St., Suite 201. The disposal box is in the lobby. Open 24/7. Mail back envelopes available at no cost (no needles);

• Fred Meyer, 801 Auburn Way N. Medication disposal dropbox (no needles);

• HealthPoint Medical Clinic, 126 Auburn Ave. Medication disposal at first floor blue bin (no needles); and

• Auburn Public Health Center, 901 Auburn Way N., Suite A. Syringe dropbox only.

Dropoff at all sites is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The Fred Meyer corporation, in collaboration with Cardinal Health, recently joined the growing list of companies that offer back collection services in their communities.

Last October, Americans turned in 912,305 pounds of prescription drugs at more than 8,500 collection sites. In its 14 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 9,015,668 pounds – more than 4,508 tons – of pills.

The initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are high, as is 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 safety and health hazards.

For more information, visit DEATakeBack.com.