April 25, 2022
Saturday, April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is taking place this Saturday, April 30th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations across Skagit County. This is a national event, organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in collaboration with community law enforcement and prevention partners.
Since 2010, Take Back Day events have provided easy, anonymous opportunities to remove medicines in the home that are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse, and theft. Through the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative, a grand total of 744,082 pounds of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications were collected nation-wide during last year’s October event. In Skagit County, a total of 129.8 pounds of unwanted medication were disposed of during the October event.
Events will be taking place on Saturday, April 30th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the following locations:
- Anacortes: Anacortes Police Department, 1218 24th St.
- Burlington: Public Safety Building, 311 Cedar St. (free medication lock bags and pill bottle recycling available at this location)
- Concrete: Concrete Community Center, 45821 Railroad Ave (free medication lock bags and pill bottle recycling available at this location)
- La Conner: Swinomish Police Dept., 17353 Reservation Rd. (free medication lock bags and pill bottle recycling available at this location)
- Mount Vernon: Skagit Valley College, 2405 E College Way (free medication lock boxes/bags and pill bottle recycling available at this location)
- Sedro-Woolley: Sedro-Woolley City Hall, 325 Metcalf St. (free medication lock bags and pill bottle recycling available at this location)
Skagit County Public Health will be at the Concrete location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. offering free COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as free at-home testing kits (while supplies last). Free naloxone kits will also be available at this location.
If you cannot attend a Take Back Day event, please know that Skagit County operates a year-round Secure Medicine Return Program. Prescription medicines, legally prescribed controlled substances (e.g., narcotics and stimulants), over-the-counter medicines, and pet medications can all be disposed using a Secure Medicine Return drop box. Current Drop Box locations are listed at: https://med-project.org/.
For those with mobility concerns, pre-paid no-cost medicine return mailers are available, to be sent directly to your home. Please go to https://med-project.org/ or call 1-844-633-7765 to order mailers. You can get standard mailers or special mailers for inhalers and prefilled auto-injectors.
For updates and additional information on DEA’s Take Back events, please visit www.DEATakeBack.com or visit United General District 304's webpage for more information.
Want to know more about Skagit County’s Secure Medicine Return program, substance use prevention, treatment, or local recovery options?
Visit www.skagitrising.org or call Public Health at (360) 416-1500. |
