In the earlier part of this newsletter we share about a national campaign called ‘Starts With One’ which is a campaign that focuses on disrupting the growth of the opioid crisis nationally. The local Washington state campaign to address the substance use problem is called Locks save lives. You can do your part in helping with this campaign by
1. Lock up your Substances
Many homes have substances in easily accessible places. The Locks Save lives campaign encourages Locking up prescription medications and other substances. Keep medications out of medicine cabinets and out the hands of young people in your home by storing medications in a secured location. Partnership for Drug-Free Kids report two-thirds of teens who misused prescription pain medications in the past year say they got them from a friend or family member’s home medicine cabinet, making it important to safeguard prescription medicine in the home. Secure storage and safe disposal of medications diminish opportunities for easy access. It can protect your loved ones and provide you peace of mind. Unsure how to secure your prescription medications at home, check out these medication locking devices: Safer Lock Box, Locking bags, Pill Pod Lock Box, and Rev-A-Shelf Cabinet Locks.
2. Educate and Communicate
With all the additional time at home now is a better time than ever to talk to your children about healthy decision making. Talk with your young people. Parents, grandparents and guardians have an incredibly important role to play. By having frequent conversations with the kids and young adults in our lives about the dangers of misusing prescription drugs. Conversations are one of the most powerful tools parents and caregivers can use to connect with — and protect — their kids. Kids who learn at home about the risks of misusing and abusing drugs and alcohol, including prescription drugs, are less likely to use substances than those who do not get that critical message from their loved ones. Tips for Talking and What to Say to Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse >
3. Dispose Medications Properly
The cancelation of the “Drug Takeback Event” does not mean you cannot still dispose of your prescription medication properly. Using take-back programs around Southwest Washhinton individuals are able to safely and properly dispose of unwanted, unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications keeps these medications out of the hands of kids and out of our waterways and the environment. Since individuals may have a larger supply of prescriptions in their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever safe medication storage and disposal are essential.
During the COVID-19 social distancing, ONLY the following Clark County locations are accepting medication for disposal:
- Walgreens- Fisher’s Landing, (360) 885-2938, 1905 SE 164th Ave., Vancouver. Open: 24 hours/day - Call for availability Walgreens Salmon Creek
- Walgreens- Salmon Creek, (360) 574–0914, 2100 NE 139th St., Vancouver. Open: M-F, 8 am-10 pm, Sat, 9 am-6 pm, Sun, 10am-6pm, Call for availability.
- Vancouver Police: East, (360) 487-7500, 520 SE 155th Ave., Vancouver. Open: M-F, 8 am-5 pm. *No pill containers*
- Vancouver Police: West, (360) 487-7355, 2800 NE Stapleton Rd., Vancouver. Open: M-F, 8 am-5 pm, *No pill containers*
- Central Transfer & Recycling Center, (360) 256-8482, 11034 NE 117th Ave., Vancouver. *Medications and inhalers* accepted: Fri-Sun, 8 am-4 pm
- West Van Materials Recovery Center (360) 737-1727, 6601 NW Old Lower River Rd., Vancouver. *Medications and inhalers* accepted: Sat, 8 am-4 pm
- Washougal Transfer Station, (360) 835-2500, 4020 S Grant St., Washougal. *Medications and inhalers* accepted: The first and third Saturday of the month, 8 am-4 pm.
Click here for a complete list of medication take back locations in Clark County.
Go to Take Back Your Meds to find medication take back locations in Washington State.
Check out Starts with One-Take Back Your Meds to learn more about how to safely store medication, dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medication, and the importance of removing prescription opioid medications from homes.
4. Spread the Word
With the stay at home order many of use are spending more time having virtual and telephone interactions with our friends and family members. Consider sharing information about Locks Saves Lives and challenging your friends and family members to do their part in protecting the safety of the young people in your home.
