Drug disposal program to no longer accept OTC medicine

PORT ORCHARD – As a result of high demand usage, sheriff’s office procedures concerning the disposal of unused medications has been revised for those persons wanting to get rid of unwanted prescription drugs.

PORT ORCHARD – As a result of high demand usage, sheriff’s office procedures concerning the disposal of unused medications has been revised for those persons wanting to get rid of unwanted prescription drugs.

The sheriff’s office no longer can accept vitamins or over the counter medications for disposal.

The drug take back receptacle boxes are located in the lobbies of the sheriff’s Silverdale and Port Orchard offices.

The purpose of this program is to provide a safe, legal and environmentally friendly alternative to disposing of prescription medications. According to the White House Office of Drug Control Policy, prescription drugs are the second most abused category of drugs in the country.

This program was designed to provide safe locations to dispose of prescription medications no longer needed, thereby removing potential abuse by others, as well as to provide a system of destroying medications in a manner less likely to contaminate environmental systems.

This initiative permits the disposal of prescription medications on any weekday during sheriff’s office business hours. Specific drug collection boxes are installed in the lobby of each office. The box is a receptacle similar to a large, free-standing metal mailbox, has external locks and a deposit slot for placing medications inside.

Directions regarding the eligible and ineligible products that may be dropped into the collection boxes are displayed on each collection box.

Items that will be accepted include:

• Prescription medications

• Prescription ointments

• Prescription patches

• Sample prescription medications

• Medications for pets

Items that are not accepted:

• Aerosol cans

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Inhalers

• Intravenous solutions or injectables

• Lotions or liquids

• Medications turned in by businesses or clinics

• Medical waste

• Over the counter medications

• Needles (sharps)

• Thermometers

• Vitamins

Receptacle locations for disposal of medications:

Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office:

3951 NW Randall Way in Silverdale. Lobby hours: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

614 Division Street in Port Orchard. Lobby hours: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays

Please call 360-337-7101, first, to ensure that the drug drop-off receptacles are not full and have the storage capacity to accept additional medications.