New Drug Take-Back Service in The Dalles Offers Safe Disposal for Unused Medications

Jan 3

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From Wasco County Sheriff:

The Dalles, Ore. Jan. 3, 2024 — The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office announced today it has established a convenient medication take-back program for easy disposal of leftover, unused, and out-of-date prescription and over-the-counter medications.

In an effort to help reduce the risk of drugs in the home that can potentially harm children, teens, or adults, the Sheriff’s Office has set up a secure, safe drop-off location in the lobby of its facility at 511 Washington St. Suite 102, in The Dalles.

Unused medications in the home are a source of drug abuse in millions of homes, with the opioid crisis in the United States fueled in part by that availability: 47%* of misused prescription pain relievers are given by, bought from, or taken from a friend or relative. On average, an American dies of a drug overdose every 5 minutes**.

“We want to ensure the folks in our community have a safe, secure opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and make their homes and communities safer,” said Chief Deputy Scott Williams, of the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to remind people they should not flush drugs down the toilet. Traces of drugs can appear in community drinking water. Our drug disposal unit, which is easily accessible inside the Sheriff’s Office, is a great answer to that problem and is simple to use. They just come in, look for the big receptacle, and take it from there. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.”

Chief Deputy Williams said some things couldn’t be deposited in the receptacle, such as empty injector products and needles, but staff will be on hand to help determine what to do. The collection receptacle will be available to the public during normal business hours, Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Drug Take-Back Solutions Foundation operated by Inmar Intelligence, to manage this drug take-back program, which drug manufacturers fund. The company has a long history as an industry leader in handling prescription and over-the-counter drug returns safely, securely, and discreetly for major and regional chain drug stores and independent pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies across the U.S.