Voices for Health

The Voices for Health Blog is an opportunity for the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition's members and partners to speak to an array of prevention topics such as healthy choices, substance abuse, intervention, treatment, and recovery. The goal of the Coalition is to strengthen community collaboration to reduce substance abuse among youth

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First County-Wide Medication Take Back Program: Off to a Great Start!

August 13th, 2010 at Fri, 13th, 2010 at 8:48 am by Carrie Unpingco

Undersheriff, Jon Zerby and the collected medications!

By Cara Gresham, Take Back Coordinator, San Juan Island Prevention Coalition

On Wednesday, August 4, 2010 the Medication Take Back Program debuted at Friday Harbor Drug, Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas Island, and Lopez Island Pharmacy. Overall, it was a great success!

Cara Gresham, Take Back Coordinator; Cynthia Stark-Wickman, San Juan Island Prevention Coalition Coordinator; and Undersheriff, Jon Zerby were stationed in Friday Harbor Drug from 10am to 2pm to collected people’s returned medications as well as answer questions about the program. The total amount of medications taken back at Friday Harbor Drug was 34.5 lbs. Way to go San Juan Island residents!

Both Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas and Lopez Island Pharmacy also had a good turnout. Thank you to everyone for turning in your medications for safe disposal. This will make a huge difference.

The Take Back Program will be an on-going program the first Wednesday of each month. The next Medication Take Back Day is Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 10am to 2pm. Go dig out your old and/or unused medications and get rid of them safely! We hope to see an even larger turnout in September.

Future Take Back Days: Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, and Dec 1

Betty Baker (right) was the first community member to bring back medications!

Undersheriff Jon Zerby, Take Back Coordinator Cara Gresham, Hazardous Waste Coordinator Helen Venada, and community member Kathie Ward (from left to right)

Take Back Coordinator Cara Gresham; Brad Fincher, Chair of San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, and Undersheriff Zerby holding a bag of returned medications (from left to right)

San Juan Island Prevention Coalition Coordinator, Cynthia Stark-Wickman; Friday Harbor Drug pharmacist, Norm Degraaff; Sheriff Bill Cumming; and Undersheriff, Jon Zerby (left to right). Medication Take Back Coordinator, Cara Gresham (front)

San Juan Island Prevention Coalition

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