Wasco County Sheriff’s Office announces convenient drug take-back program for leftover household medications

January 3, 2025

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office announced today it has established a convenient medication takeback program for easy disposal of leftover, unused, and out-of-date prescription and over-the-counter
medications.

In an effort to help reduce the risk of drugs in the home that can potentially harm children, teens, or
adults, the Sheriff’s Office has set up a secure, safe drop-off location in the lobby of its facility at 511
Washington St. Suite 102, in The Dalles.

Unused medications in the home are a source of drug abuse in millions of homes, with the opioid crisis
in the United States fueled in part by that availability: 47%* of misused prescription pain relievers are
given by, bought from or taken from a friend or relative. On average, an American dies of a drug
overdose every 5 minutes**.

“We want to ensure the folks in our community have a safe, secure opportunity to clean out their
medicine cabinets and make their homes and communities safer,” said Chief Deputy Scott Williams, of
the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to remind people they should not flush drugs down the
toilet. Traces of drugs can appear in community drinking water. Our drug disposal unit, which is easily
accessible inside the Sheriff’s Office, is a great answer to that problem and is simple to use. They just
come in, look for the big receptacle, and take it from there. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions
asked.”

Chief Deputy Williams said some things can’t be deposited in the receptacle, such as empty injector
products and needles, but staff will be on hand to help determine what to do. The collection receptacle
will be available to the public during normal business hours, Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM.

The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Drug Take-Back Solutions Foundation operated
by Inmar Intelligence, to manage this drug take-back program, which drug manufacturers fund. The
company has a long history as an industry leader in handling prescription and over-the-counter drug
returns safely, securely, and discreetly for major and regional chain drug stores and independent
pharmacies, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies across the U.S.