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Dunn proposal will spotlight secure medicine return program, help reduce risk of meds falling into the wrong hands

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Metropolitan King County
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Dunn proposal will spotlight secure medicine return program, help reduce risk of meds falling into the wrong hands

Summary

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn on Thursday introduced legislation to establish an awareness campaign about King County’s existing secure medicine return program.

Story

Metropolitan King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn on Thursday introduced legislation to establish an awareness campaign about King County’s existing secure medicine return program. This comes one week after Dunn hosted the first conference on addiction disorders, where the public heard from DCHS, Public Health, and others about the science of addiction and how to address substance use disorder.

“As drug overdoses tragically surge in King County, every resident should be aware that there is a resource available to help them safely dispose of medications they no longer need,” Dunn said. “The King County Secure Medicine Return program is an impactful way for our region to work together to reduce the risk of prescription medicine getting into the wrong hands.”

This Council-led awareness campaign will give all nine King County Councilmembers resources to educate their constituents about the already established secure medication return program. These resources will include the location drop boxes across King County as well as the number, 1-800-633-7765, any resident of the County can call to request a mail-back envelope.  During the pandemic, the mail-back envelope program had been expanded and is now available to all King County residents.

Items eligible for this program include:

  • Medicines in any form (pills, capsules, creams, liquids)
  • Prescription medicines
  • Non-Prescription over-the-counter medicines
  • Controlled substances
  • Pet medicines

Later this fall, the secure medication return program will be transitioned to the state, requiring additional communication to the general public.

The secure medicine return program is operated by the pharmaceutical industry in conjunction with local governments. For more information about the program and to find a location to securely drop off your old medication, visit: https://kingcountysecuremedicinereturn.org/  

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