Hoquiam, WA - Another Prescription Drug Take Back day is coming to Hoquiam, Detective James Gaddis tells us Saturday April 28th Hoquiam will again work with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency to host a collection site for unwanted prescription drugs. Last year in the four states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, we had 157 law enforcement agencies participate and host 202 sites. Over 21,500 pounds of unwanted/unused pharmaceuticals were collected on October 29th - Gaddis This program is designed to assist those who wish to dispose of unused/unwanted Pharmaceutical Drugs. Controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances will be collected. This program is anonymous and no questions or identification will be requested by law enforcement. Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or may remove the medication from its original container and place them in a disposal box provided at the site. Hoquiam PD is again hosting a drop-off site. The lobby of the police station, located at the base of the Simpson Ave Bridge, will be open during the Drug Take Back period on April 28th from 10 AM to 2 PM.
At the last event in April 2011, HPD collected 134 pounds of unwanted medication. - Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers 
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications. Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months. “The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.” “With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart. It is recommended the participant remove any identifying information from the prescription label. All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquids should remain in a tightly sealed container. Participants will not be questioned nor will the items taken in be documented by law enforcement. Intra-venous solutions, injectibles, syringes, or medical waste WILL NOT be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not part of the initiative. The Hoquiam site will be located at the front entrance to the HPD building and will be open from 10am till 2pm.
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