Media Advisory

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

What:

The Contra Costa County Pharmaceutical Disposal Collaborative hosts a community forum about the need for safe and convenient disposal of unwanted medicines, including discussion about different collection approaches being implemented and considered elsewhere, drug abuse, accidental poisonings and unsafe disposal.

Who:

Contra Costa Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho will convene a panel discussion of regional experts, moderated by Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman for Contra Costa Health Services.

When:

Thursday, July 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where:

John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill Campus, 100 Ellinwood Way.

RSVP:

Please RSVP to LeeAnn Knight at leeannk@ddsd.org or 925-756-1948.

Why:

Safe disposal of unwanted or expired prescription drugs helps to prevent drug abuse and accidental poisonings, and protects the environment. Misuse of prescription drugs is one of the fastest-increasing forms of drug abuse.

Unused prescriptions are a rising danger, particularly for teenagers, County Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho said. "It is important that there are appropriate methods for people to safely dispose of these unwanted or unused medications. Until the state enacts a policy regarding prescription disposal, local authorities need to explore ways to monitor these unused substances," she said.

The Contra Costa County Pharmaceutical Disposal Collaborative is a partnership of Contra Costa County, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, Contra Costa County Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition, Delta Diablo Sanitation District, National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, and West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority.

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