Thursday, June 13, 2013

Seattle City Council to vote on resolution supporting medicine return program


On Monday, the Seattle City Council will vote on a resolution "Supporting creation of a secure, convenient medicine return program in King County to reduce the public safety and environmental impacts of unwanted medicines." 

The resolution starts by stating:

WHEREAS, drug overdose deaths, abuse of prescription pain killers, and abuse of medicines by young people is a growing problem, and more people die of prescription medicines than all illegal drugs combined; and

WHEREAS, medicines used in the home are the leading cause of poisonings reported to the Washington Poison Center, and preventable poisonings from medicines have been rising rapidly, especially among children and seniors; and

WHEREAS, unwanted medicines left in the home contribute to opportunities for drug abuse, drug theft, and accidental poisonings; and . . .

The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Richard Conlin who is also a member of the King County Board of Health.  If you've been following this blog, you know that the Board will vote next week on policy that would establish a medicine return program.

Please consider thanking Councilmember Conlin for his support of policy that can help reduce youth medicine abuse. 

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