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Spokane-area residents can return unneeded prescription drugs Saturday

Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent In Charge Frank A. Tarentino, left, from the Seattle office of the DEA, speaks Tuesday, March 29, 2022, while other seated dignitaries, from left, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref, Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward, Spokane police Chief Craig Meidl, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and Marsha Malsam of the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education listen at a news conference about the growing problem with the drug Fentanyl held at the Davenport Grand. At far right is a photo of Rayce Rudeen, a Freeman High School graduate who overdosed on synthetic opioids in 2016. His family has started a foundation in his name to do education about fentanyl. (Jesse Tinsley/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
By Kip Hill kiph@spokesman.com(509) 459-5429

Spokane-area residents will once again be able to return their unneeded prescription drugs, with no questions asked, at the National Drug Take-Back Day event on Saturday.

The Drug Enforcement Administration program will be available at NorthTown Mall, 4750 N. Division St.; the Northeast Community Center, 4001 N. Cook St.; and C.O.P.S. Northwest, 2215 W. Wellesley Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The initiative was started 11 years ago in an effort to reduce the amount of prescription medications that could be abused. Since its inception, Washington state collection centers have taken in 9,380 pounds of prescription drugs at take-back events, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Eastern Washington.

This spring, the attorney’s office, the DEA and local law enforcement announced a task force effort to target illicit opioids, specifically fentanyl, reaching the streets. Seizures of the powerful synthetic drug, as well as overdoses, have been skyrocketing in recent years.

The Food and Drug Administration also has a list of resources on their website about where and how to safely dispose of prescription medications. Go to bit.ly/3s27UwK for more information.