Safe disposal of medicines is relevant to everyone’s personal health safety.
Safe Drug Disposal NW is raising awareness about the potential impact from improperly disposed medications and proactive guidance through proper disposal alternatives.
On October 29, you can dispose of your prescriptions at one of the locations as part of the National Take Back Initiative. To find a location near you, visit the DEA's web page.
But you don't have to wait until then! You can dispose of unused medicines before then and there are efforts across the northwest to let people know how.
Idaho
Governor Butch Otter is helping Idaho residents clean out their medicine cabinet of unused prescriptons. Governor Otter's message can be heard on radio stations across the state (listen here).
Washington State
The effort is raising awareness across the Northwest with public service announcements from Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna (listen here) and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn (listen here). The effort has also partnered with the Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic (Spanish language PSA here) and D.A.R.E. to spread the word to teens and their parents (listen here).
YOU can take a few small steps to make a huge impact in safeguarding lives and even keeping our water clean by disposing of unused medicines properly.
Disposing of medicines in household trash can ensure that unused medicines are not collected in a way that might increase the opportunity for misuse and can Keep our Kids Safe.