On Saturday, April 30th, 1,020 Clark County residents dropped off over 1993 pounds of medicine with local law enforcement officers and volunteers. The medicine disposal event was held at four locations throughout the county where a steady stream of cars waited to hand over prescription medicines and other medicines. The busiest location was Cascade Park Kaiser Permanente, serving 430 participants and bringing in almost 920 pounds of pills. All pills were separated from plastic containers where they will be transported for incineration. Plastics will be recycled.

The prescription drug disposal event is a biannual community partnership including Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, La Center Police Department, Battle Ground Police Department, Clark County Environmental Services, PREVENT! The Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Clark County, Kaiser Permanente, Clark College, and La Center United. Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem. The 2014 Washington State Healthy Survey found that 6% of high school seniors admitted misusing prescription drugs. Most teens get prescription drugs they abuse from friends and relatives, sometimes without the person knowing. Proper drug disposal also is an environmental issue. Unused medications should not be flushed down the toilet or dumped down the drain.

PREVENT! would like to thank Kaiser Permanante for hosting two sites, as well as providing the vendor for the plastic recycling. Thank you to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center for supplying prescription drug lock boxes (Pill pods) to each member of the public who turned in unused medications.

Unwanted medications can be disposed of year round at several collection sites across Clark County. Controlled substances, such as pain killers and tranquilizers, can be taken to participating law enforcement agencies. Non-controlled substances, such as over-the-counter medications, can be taken to local participating pharmacies.

For more information on both types of disposal, visit “Medications” at RecyclingA-Z.com.
For more information about other disposal or recycling options, visit RecyclingA-Z.com or call Clark County Environmental Services at (360) 397-2121 ext. 4352. Or PREVENT! Coalition at (360) 952-3397 or www.preventcoalition.org.