Drug Take-Back Day
Dear Editor: On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Healing Our People and Environment (HOPE) Coalition will be partnering with Sitka Public Library and Sitka Police Department to hold a drug take-back event outside the Sitka Public Library.
Community members are encouraged to bring all of their unused, expired, and unwanted prescription medications to the event for free disposal.
The drug take back event is part of a larger prevention program by the HOPE Coalition to reduce substance misuse in our community, especially amongst youth and young adults.
In addition to the drug take back event, the HOPE Coalition provides free medication disposal bags for in home use and free lock box safes for safe medication storage, as well as free opioid overdose kits (NARCAN) for individuals (and their friends or family members) who may be at risk for opioid overdose. These will be available at the drug take back event.
Medication drop boxes are also available throughout Sitka with locations at Harry Race Pharmacy, the Sitka Police Department, and SEARHC Pharmacy.
The number-one place youths and young adults get medications not prescribed to them is from home, and most often without the knowledge of other family members. The main goal of the drug take back day is to reduce social access to medications and highlight the safe storage, monitoring, and disposal of medications. Proper disposal not only prevents prescription medications from getting into the wrong hands, but it also ensures that these medications don’t end up in our water systems.
For more information on the DEA National Drug Take-Back Day event or other prevention activities in our community contact Loyd Platson at Sitka Counseling, 747-3636.
M. Mongiovi, Sitka Counseling
