Shocking Increase in Opioid Deaths Prompts Secure Medicine Return Campaign
Summary
King County is launching an awareness campaign to promote the county’s secure medicine return program. This comes in the wake of reports of skyrocketing drug overdoses affecting King County and the United States at large.
Story
King County is launching an awareness campaign to promote the county’s secure medicine return program. This comes in the wake of reports of skyrocketing drug overdoses affecting King County and the United States at large.Data released previously by the King County Medical Examiner showed a 24% increase in overdose-related deaths in 2020, with 2021 already surpassing those numbers, and an even larger increase – of 118% – over the last decade.
The awareness campaign was authorized earlier this year by the King County Council. Vice Chair Reagan Dunn proposed and sponsored the effort and he is available for interviews.
“With a rapid rise in overdose deaths and the increased consumption of controlled substances during the pandemic, there is no time to wait when it comes to removing unused prescription drugs from our medicine cabinets,” Dunn said. “This public awareness campaign for the King County Secure Medicine Return Program is a significant and positive step towards keeping unused medicine off the streets and protecting everyone from drug overdoses.”
This awareness campaign hopes to share information about drop box locations across King County as well as the number 1-800-633-7765 for any resident to call to request a secure medicine return mail-back envelope.
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
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 old medication, visit: https://kingcountysecuremedicinereturn.org/