The end of the summer is a good time for Lopez Island residents and visitors to clean out medicine cabinets of any unused prescription medications. Abuse of prescription medications is an ongoing problem in our state, and access to medications in homes is an easy way for youth to get their hands on these drugs. According to Washington State’s medicine take-back program, Take Back Your Meds, over half of teens who abuse medications get them from a family member or a friend, often without their knowledge. The Lopez Island Prevention Coalition is sponsoring a prescription drug take-back collection event on Wednesday, August 28th, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. outside of the Lopez Pharmacy.

This drug take-back collection event is just one way that you can safely dispose of those medications that you no longer use and safe guard your home. There is also a drop-box where you can dispose of medications at any time, day or night, at the Sherriff’s office located behind the Lopez Island Fire Station. In recent years San Juan County has focused on the drug take-back initiative, and so far there have been about 1,300 pounds of medications that have been collected for disposal. Coming to this drug take-back collection event on August 28th, and using the drop-box outside of the Sheriff’s office are two simple ways that you can help to reduce substance use and abuse on our island.