Easy ways to safely dispose of medications

Drug drop at QFC Pharmacy at 4-Corners
Business District on RB Road in Shoreline
Photo by Eric C. Kaminetzky

By Diane Hettrick

There are a lot of good reasons not to keep old prescriptions around the house.

Here are a few:

1. Anyone that thinks a child can't get in to a "childproof cap" hasn't been around children. The only ones who have trouble getting in are adults.
2. Teens making bad decisions, getting in to your medicine cabinet. So your teen is ok - what about his friends - or the new babysitter? Don't contribute to the opioid crisis.
3. The water is already full of viagra - don't add your meds by flushing drugs down the toilet.
4. And don't throw them in the garbage or compost either. That goes in the ground, the drugs leach into the soil, and it all ends up in the water anyway.

Public Health has made it easier to safely dispose of unused and expired medication – including prescription painkillers – by setting up over 100 Drop Boxes at participating pharmacies and law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

"We’ve just launched a program for people to find the nearest drop box. Text the word MEDS to 667-873. You’ll then enter your zip code for the nearest location."

This system works so well that I looked everything up for local places. 

The common theme seems to be QFC Pharmacies, police stations, and some medical offices.

Shoreline

• Shoreline Police station - 17500 Midvale Ave N 98133
• ICHS Shoreline Pharmacy 16549 Aurora Ave N 98133
• QFC Pharmacy 600 NW Richmond Beach Road 98177
• QFC Pharmacy 1531 NE 145th St Seattle 98155

Lake Forest Park

• LFP Police station 17425 Ballinger Way NE 98155

Kenmore

• Kenmore Police at Kenmore City Hall 18120 68th NE 98028
• Ostrom's Drug and Gift 6404 NE Bothell Way Kenmore 98028

Northgate

• Kaiser Permanente Northgate Medical Center 9800 4th Ave NE Seattle 98115
• Northgate QFC 11100 Roosevelt Way NE Seattle 98125
• Northwest Prescriptions 1536 N 115th St, Ste 100 Seattle 98133

Corrected address for Shoreline Police