Oregon joins Prescription Drug Take Back day Oct. 27

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality encourages Oregonians throughout the state to take part in a nationwide effort on Saturday, Oct. 27 to collect unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications so they can be disposed of properly.

If not properly disposed, medications can lead to abuse by persons other than the intended patient, accidental poisonings and can contaminate Oregon’s waterways.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in association with hundreds of law enforcement, public health and other organizations, conducts this National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. In the most recent event, Americans turned in 474.5 tons (949,046 pounds) of prescription drugs. In Oregon, officials collected 14,614 pounds during its last event, and has collected more than 134,000 pounds since the program started 15 years ago.

For details on event locations and times, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration website at https://takebackday.dea.gov. You can select events by city, county and zip code. Only prescription medications will be accepted. People should not bring over-the-counter medicines, needles, IV solutions, mercury thermometers or medical waste. No illegal drugs should be brought to the events.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

For people unable to take part in the events, or who have over-the-counter drugs, more than 80 law enforcement offices in Oregon accept unwanted and unused medicines throughout the year. For a list of these sites, visit http://www.oracwa.org/documents/Unwanteddrugdropof… or contact your local city police office or county sheriff’s office for more information.