Drug drop-off program open on Reservation

On an unusually sunny Saturday March 10 at the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Swinomish Police Department’s Community Service Officer Brian Geer was spreading some sunshine of his own. Officer Geer stationed himself and waited alongside a locking strong box, at the SITC’s outdoor basketball court on the corner of First Street and Snee Oosh Road. He was there to kick off a new SPD “Prescription Drug Take Back Program” designed to collect and store unwanted or expired prescription medication (pills) until they can be incinerated. He got the word out via flyers, email, Facebook and word of mouth.

By mid-day, on the day of the event he happily had the first full 30-gallon garbage bag, filled with prescription medications.

“This is an ongoing effort to clean up and get drugs off the streets” and it is a critical intervention program. he said, pointing out that, “between the ages of 12 and 25 there is the highest opiate use in the Country … it starts with the pills and moves on up to heroin and is kind of a gateway.” Police Chief D’Amelio has committed special funding for this program, he said.

Suffering possible side effects, getting addicted or overdosing on medication belonging to other people are dire consequences and of grave concern to SPD and the Tribal community. Officer Geer said this is a prevention program and a way to keep medication from getting into the wrong hands. It will also help keep children (and pets) from getting hold of medication and accidently overdosing.

He also stressed that having a place to turn in medications now will help keep them out of our sewage and water systems- which can become a serious health problem to humans, animals, and the environment. Flushing medications down a toilet or drain is no longer recommended Officer Geer said: “If stuffs not good in your body, it’s not good in the water and that water can go to many sources.”

The Swinomish Police Department is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. They are located at 17353 Reservation Road in La Conner and are now a permanent drop off location. They cannot take liquid prescriptions, but have information on how to safely dispose of them. This program is free and anonymous. Their phone number is (360) 466-7237.

Officer Geer said that the SPD hopes to get the word out through the local fire departments as well and expand the program in the future to neighboring communities.