The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office in Partnership with the Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program announces the Prescription Drug Collection Program addition.
This addition will add to an already existing program of taking in prescription drugs during Shredding Events that are offered quarterly in different areas of the County. The addition is a MedReturn Drug Collection Unit that will offer the public a means to anonymously deposit their expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. The drug collection unit is located in the lobby of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office located at 63333 W. Hwy 20, Bend.
Prescription drug abuse in teens and adults continues to be a growing trend. The collection box will aid in our effort to keep drugs out of the hands of individuals who may use them in an unsafe or unlawful manner. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
The Prescription Drug Collection Program is free, anonymous, no questions asked.
Medications from households are accepted in any form, including prescriptions, over-the-counter and pet medication. Individuals are asked to keep the medicine in their original containers, tightly sealed and secured in a zip lock bag to prevent leakage and contamination. Participants are encouraged to remove or “black out” their personal information from the prescription labels.
They ask that no needles or sharps are put into the drug collection box. All of the medications collected from this program will be destroyed by incineration.
Acceptable items include:
All expired, unused or unwanted controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter medications, including pet medications. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, must be tightly sealed in a leak-proof container.
Unacceptable items include:
Sharps, syringes, thermometers, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, and inhalers. This program is designed for individuals only and we are unable to accept medications from clinics, nursing homes or businesses.
Two MedReturn Drug Collection Units were purchased, one for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and one for the Bend Police Department (soon to be installed, media release pending) with funds from the Oregon HIDTA.
The MedReturn unit at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will be made available Friday morning (December 16) starting at 8am. The unit will be available Monday through Friday (except holidays) 8am to 5pm.
