Local News

Republic Police Department Establishes Rx Drug Take-Back Policy

Oct 02, 2014

Republic Police Chief Jan Lewis has crafted a new standard operating procedure to accept prescription drugs that community members no longer need as a method to help reduce unintended access by underage youth. The Pharmaceuticals Take Back Program Standard Operating Procedure was recently approved by City Council and is now in effect.

Chief Lewis, a member of the What’s Right? RRAD Coalition (Republic Reducing Alcohol and Drug use), recognized the importance of providing education about the dangers of prescription medications when misused and a means to dispose of them when no longer needed.

“Based on more than 34 years in the law enforcement field, 20 years of working on a drug task force, I know first-hand the potential for harm from unsecured and unused prescription medication,” elaborated Lewis. “In recent years, it has become evident that prescription drug abuse is a rapidly expanding problem in our community. Given our remote location, citizens of Ferry County have very limited options for safely destroying their unwanted medications.”

Last week’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, coordinated by Dave Hodge, Corrections Officer, Ferry County Jail, netted 22 pounds of returned medications. The drugs were collected by an officer over a 4 hour span at the Republic Drug Store.

“These kind of activities are important because it helps to get the excess drugs off the street, especially for those who have children, teens, even neighborhood kids, to keep those drugs out the wrong hands,” explained Hodge. “The Take-back event makes people more aware of the risk of their medications getting into the wrong hands and gives them a way to safely dispose of them.”

Recent changes in policy by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) signaled the end of the national Drug Take-Back events, increasing the importance for the City of Republic to establish a protocol for safe collection of unwanted medications on a regular basis.

“Chief Lewis has been very forward-thinking about this challenging problem in our community,” said Janine Koffel, RRAD Coalition Coordinator. “He pursued getting more information about the logistics of providing such a service to the community, crafted the policy, and secured the City Council’s approval. His efforts were the driving force behind this successful coalition initiative!”

Citizens may begin returning unwanted, unused, even expired medications to the Republic Police Department during regular business hours immediately. The police department is located at 157 North Clark Avenue in Republic. Police personnel will not accept the following items: needles/syringes, thermometers, IV bags or bloody infectious waste, personal care products, Hydrogen peroxide/other chemicals, aerosol cans, used EpiPens, glass/metals, business waste, any mercury or Iodine products.

The establishment of a standard operating procedure by the City of Republic, the installation of a permanent drug take-back collection unit, and ongoing community education efforts about prescription drug abuse are just a few of the strategies used by the RRAD Coalition to promote a safe community where youth are encouraged and empowered to choose to be alcohol and drug-free to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential. The RRAD Coalition is funded by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Behavioral Health and Recovery under the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative. Anyone interested in becoming involved in the work of the coalition is invited to attend the monthly coalition meetings held the first Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. at the Republic Presbyterian Church, 605 S. Keller Street or to contact Janine Koffel, Coalition Coordinator, at (509) 207-9174. Updates on coalition activities are also provided on the What’s Right? RRAD Coalition Facebook page.