Prescription Drug Summit

You may have heard about the spike in number of heroin-related deaths around the state last spring, which led to increased awareness of the link between prescription drug abuse and Heroin addiction.  In the wake of this, the Marion County Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC), which both Woodburn City Councilor Pete McCallum and Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell serve on, is helping to organize a concerted effort to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs within Marion County.  Especially targeted are opiates including Oxycontin, Oxycodone and Valium.

Locally, we have conducted several successful prescription drug take back events with our partners. In these events people can get rid of unneeded prescriptions and be assured that they will be properly destroyed by authorities without harming sewage treatment systems. These events are manpower intensive and require pre-planning by citizens to get their old drugs to the drop off point on the proper day. Some communities around the nation have found that secure drop off boxes at the local police department have served as a convenient and less expensive alternative. 

The Woodburn Police Department is currently reviewing available drop off box solutions and seeking available budget dollars to place one in the PD lobby. In addition, we have recommended that the PSCC seek corporate sponsorship to place such boxes in secure locations all around Marion County.

The PSCC is hosting at Prescription Drug Summit in Woodburn on April 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Woodburn Health Center. The event is free to the public and topics will include a discussion on the impact prescription drugs, heroin and opiates have on individuals and families. Speakers from the justice department and medical field will also provide information on the long-last impacts of prescription drug addiction. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to learn skills to help reduce usage in our area.

Individuals will also be able to discard prescription drugs on site. In addition, the Woodburn Police Department will have a permanent drop-off box for prescription drugs set up at police headquarters, located at 1060 Mount Hood Ave.

Let’s all join in and get educated on how we can make a positive change in our area. Prescription drug addiction is one of the fastest growing problems in the Willamette Valley, and one that impacts all of us in some way.