On Saturday, October 24th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 19th opportunity in 9 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your pills for disposal to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office at 29808 Colvin St, Gold Beach, OR. (The Curry County Sheriff’s Office & the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps. Only pills, patches) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This year due to Covid-19 precautions we are asking that people observe the recommendations from the CDC by wearing a mask while in the building to drop off unwanted medications.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 27th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com or contact the Curry County Sheriff’s Office at 541-247-3242.
