EUGENE, Ore. — On Saturday, April 22, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the Lane Community College (LCC) Public Safety and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will join forces to offer the public a chance to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications. This initiative aims to prevent pill abuse, theft, and the associated risks. Community members are encouraged to bring pills and patches to Building 19's west side at the LCC main campus, located at 4000 E. 30th Ave., Eugene. The disposal service is free, anonymous, and no questions will be asked.
Please note that only pills and patches will be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables, inhalers, syringes, chemotherapy medications, vaping devices with non-removable batteries, and medical waste are not accepted due to the potential hazard of blood-borne pathogens and the need for specialized disposal. Medications can be dropped off in their original containers or alternative packaging, such as paper or plastic bags.
"A safer community starts with responsible disposal. Join us in our mission to reduce prescription drug abuse and protect our environment by participating in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day," said Lisa Rupp, LCC’s Director of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
The Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative tackles crucial public safety and health concerns. Unused medications stored in household cabinets are at high risk of being misused, abused, or diverted. Prescription drug abuse rates in the United States are alarmingly high, as are accidental poisonings and overdoses related to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health consistently demonstrates that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs originate from family and friends, often taken from home medicine cabinets. Additionally, it is now recommended that Americans avoid disposing of unused medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash due to potential safety, health, and environmental hazards.
For further information about the event, please contact LCC Public Safety at 541-463-5558.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.