Drug take-back program a success in Jefferson County
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office collected more than 1,100 pounds of expired or unneeded prescription drugs over the past year.
“If they have a death in the family, some older person died, where they have numerous prescriptions and they don’t know what to do with them,” Sheriff Jim Adkins said Wednesday in explaining where the drugs come from.
He said the drop boxes provide an alternative to residents dumping their medications in the toilet or down the sink, which can pollute drinking water.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7,000 Americans are treated in the emergency room each day for using prescription drugs.
In 2013, nearly 2 million Americans abused prescription painkillers.
“Most prescription abuse in teenagers starts when they take medications prescribed for an adult,” sheriff’s Capt. Marc Heckathorn said. “The drop box is a way for people to dispose of drugs properly and keeps them from falling into the wrong hands.”
Sheriff Adkins says another problem his department has addresses is used syringes.
The unwanted medication and syringes are taken to Salem, where they are destroyed.
Adkins says the amount of prescription drugs collected in a year has been a great success.
If you would like to dispose of unwanted medication you can visit these drop off locations.
Deschutes County:
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office
63333 Highway 20 ,
Bend, OR 97703
Sisters Substation
703 N Larch St
Sisters, OR 97759
LaPine Substation
51340 U.S. 97
La Pine, OR 97739
Redmond Police Department
777 SW Deschutes Avenue
Redmond, OR 97756
Crook County:
Prineville Police Department
400 NE 3rd Street
Prineville, OR 97754
Mosaic Medical Clinic
375 NW Beaver Street
Prineville, OR 97754
Clinic Pharmacy
1103 NE Elm Street
Prineville, OR 97754
Jefferson County:
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
675 NW Cherry Ln,
Madras, OR 97741
Culver City Hall
200 1st Ave,
Culver, OR 97734
Crooked River Ranch
6971 SW Shad Rd,
Terrebonne, OR 97760
