AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Talk 2 Healthy Choices, a West Plains community health coalition organization, is hosting a drug take-back event this Saturday, Oct. 26, at Yoke’s Fresh Markets, 12825 W. Sunset Highway in Airway Heights.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and is held in partnership with MultiCare Rockwood and the Airway Heights police department. A similar event held last April at the CHAS Clinic in Cheney during the city’s annual “Clean Sweep” community-wide clean up netted 80.4 pounds of prescription drugs.
“In Spokane County, we are having an opioid crisis,” Northeast Washington Education Service District 101 community prevention coalition coordinator Jessica Deutsch said in an Oct.21 news release. “Simple steps, like safely disposing of medications, can help stop the misuse of opioids.”
Deutsche added that 75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medications not prescribed to them and often taken from a friend or family member.
The take-back event is part of a “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Deutsche said the DEA will also be accepting vaping devices and cartridges at Saturday’s event in Airway Heights.
The Talk 2 Healthy Choices coalition was formed earlier this year to participate in a statewide initiative to prevent underage use of alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances. The West Plains community is one of 82 communities statewide participating in the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative (CPWI). The Initiative supports the new coalition in partnering with parents, youth, educators, health professionals, law enforcement, faith leaders and local government.
Talk 2 Healthy Choices has also facilitated training for strengthening family programs and advocates for teaching youth about the dangers of vaping.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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