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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Medication Take Back Program

July 16th, 2010 at Fri, 16th, 2010 at 8:40 am by Carrie Unpingco

Medication Take Back Program Info

Written by: Cara Gresham, Intern, San Juan Prevention Coalition

July is National Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month. To help raise awareness locally, the San Juan Prevention Coalition and the Sheriff’s Office are launching a Medication Take Back Program.

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise and falls second only to marijuana. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy young adults ages 18 to 25 have the highest rate of prescription drug abuse followed by teens ages 12 to 17.

Youth are getting prescription drugs from their own prescribed medications or from friends or family. Keep medications in a safe and secure place, and remember to dispose of them by taking them back to the pharmacy or local take back program. 71,000 children under the age of 18 are seen every year in emergency rooms due to unintentional prescription or over-the-counter medication overdoses. Take Back Programs exist around the Nation, offering a safe place for citizens to dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications.

The San Juan Island Take Back Program will kick off in August, and will be ongoing . The drop off dates will be the first Wednesday of every month. The Take Back Program is a partnership between the San Juan Sheriff’s Office, the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, Ray’s Pharmacy on Orcas, Friday Harbor Drug, Lopez Pharmacy, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, as well as other community partners.

For questions or further information contact:

Take Back Coordinator: Cara Gresham

(360) 378-9683

Cara.preventionsanjuan@hotmail.com

Medication Drop Off

Wednesday August 4, 2010

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday Harbor Drug

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