Opioid misuse is a chronic burden on public health in our state and across the country. In 2022, nearly nine million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids, and more than nine million, or 3.4% of Americans aged 12 and older, misused opioids at least once over a 12-month period. Learn more about how to get involved.
Most prescription opioid misuse starts with prescriptions found in medicine cabinets at home or by obtaining medicine from a family member or friend. To help safely dispose of unused opioids, WSHA, a key partner in Washington state’s Opioid Overdose Response Program, is working alongside the Washington Department of Health (WA DOH), the Health Care Authority and social impact agency Desautel Hege to implement Safe Medication Return Kiosks in hospitals.
In the last two years, Washington hospitals collected more than 12,000 pounds of unused medications, supporting communities during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s biannual National Prescription Day Awareness campaign (April and October). Hospitals are also having intentional, equitable opioid prescribing best practice conversations with patients and caregivers.
WSHA members do not pay any costs for kiosks. The WA DOH program supports kiosk purchasing, placing and maintenance as well as drug collection, transport and disposal.
To learn more about the Safe Medication Return Program and/or you are interested in obtaining the free kiosk, please contact WA DOH Safe Medication Return Kiosks. For more on safe opioid prescribing, tools, patient, provider and community resources, visit GetTheFactsRX.com
