On Saturday, April 24th, from 10:00am – 2:00pm, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Port Orford location of the Coos-Curry Electric Co-Op to give the public its 20th opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Bring your expired or unused medications for disposal on Saturday, April 24th to either the Curry County Sheriff’s Office at 29808 Colvin St, Gold Beach or to the Coos-Curry Electric Co-Op parking lot at 43050 Hwy 101, Port Orford. (The Curry County Sheriff’s Office & DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills and patches.) This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Due to Covid-19 precautions, the collection at the Port Orford Coos Curry Electric Co-Op location will be drive up. We are asking that people observe the recommendations from the CDC and Oregon Health Authority by wearing a mask while in the Sheriff’s Office to drop of unwanted medications.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 24th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com or contact the Curry County Sheriff’s Office at 541-247-3242
