Drug Take Back event nets 130 pounds of pharmaceuticals

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Law enforcement agencies across the North Olympic Peninsula collected more than 130 pounds of expired, unused and unwanted over-the-counter and prescription drugs during the annual Drug-Take Back Day last month.

Drugs were brought in April 27 for disposal.

The Port Angeles Police Department and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office collected 64.6 pounds of drugs at the Clallam County Courthouse at 223 E. First St., Port Angeles.

The Sequim Police Department estimated between 40 and 45 pounds of unwanted drugs were collected at the Sequim police offices, 609 W. Washington St.

Port Townsend police took in about 25 pounds of unwanted or unused drugs during the event, said Kay Pownall, administrative supervisor and property and evidence technician for the Port Townsend Police Department.

Borte said the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which sponsors the national drug take-back effort each year, has ruled that drugs no longer can be taken back to pharmacies.

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office continues to accept unused medications between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Borte said.

The office is located on the main floor of the Clallam County Courthouse.

Unwanted drugs also can be taken to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 81 Elkins Road, Port Hadlock.

The Peninsula’s other law enforcement agencies also will take in drugs five days a week during business hours.

The take-back program is free and does not require identification.

Nationally, Americans turned in more than 2 million pounds of prescription pills over the past three years at 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and state and local law enforcement agencies.