Orcas Island residents can dispose of prescription drugs at upcoming Take-Back Event

The Coalition for Orcas Youth (COY) hosts event to help prevent opioid misuse in community

||| FROM NICOLE SPINOGATTI for COALITION FOR ORCAS YOUTH |||

The Coalition for Orcas Youth (COY) will be hosting a prescription drug take-back event on Saturday, April 30th, from 10 am to 2 pm, at Key Bank Drive Thru 487 Main St, Eastsound. This event is for the public to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication in a safe and easy way. Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted. Medications can remain in their original containers and labels do not need to be removed. Medications not in their original containers will be accepted too.

This take-back event supports a campaign from the Washington State Health Care Authority, called Starts with One. This campaign informs and educates young adults, their parents, and older adults about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe storage, and disposal of prescription opioids.

According to the campaign website, “75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them — usually taken from a friend or family member.” Simple steps, like safely disposing of medications, can stop them from being misused.

Participating in these take-back events is one thing that individuals can do to help address the opioid epidemic and protect their loved ones.

For more information about the HCA Starts with One campaign, visit www.getthefactsrx.com. For more information about the Coalition for Orcas Youth, visit coalitionfororcasyouth.org.