TALK 2 hosts drug take-back at Cheney CHAS this Saturday

TALK 2 Healthy Choices will be hosting a prescription drug take-back event on April 27, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Cheney Chas Health Center, 1720 2nd St. This event is for the public to dispose of unused or expired prescription medication in a safe and easy way, and is being run in conjunction with Cheney’s annual “Clean Sweep.”

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted at CHAS during the take back. Medications can remain in their original containers and labels do not need to be removed. Medications not in their original containers will be accepted too.

According to an April 18 news release, Talk 2 Healthy Choices will be offering the first 100 families that turn prescription meds their own personal lockbox to keep. The purpose of a lockbox is to store take-home prescriptions and keep them safe from children, or any other person with home access.

This take-back event helps support two campaigns from the Washington State Health Care Authority, called “Starts with One” and “Take Back Your Meds.” These campaigns inform and educate young adults, their parents and older adults about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe storage, use, and disposal.

According to the campaign website, “75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that wasn’t prescribed for them — usually taken from a friend or family member.” Simple steps, like safely disposing of medications, can stop them from being misused.

Participating in these take-back events is one thing that individuals can do to help positively impact the opioid crisis and protect loved ones.

TALK 2 Healthy Choices is a new coalition focused on bringing two different communities (Cheney and Airway Heights) together to share resources to promote substance-free choices amongst youth. The goal is to make positive and healthy choices that will result in a safe, drug-free environment for the Cheney and Airway Heights communities. The name stands for “Take Action and Link Kids to Healthy Choices.”

In addition, a Cheney police officer will be onsite at CHAS to answer questions.