[1]Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza, left and Undersheriff Wes Rethwill, pose with a drug drop off bin inside the lobby of the Lewis County Law and Justice Center.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Newly elected Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza is suggesting people bring in their drugs.
Expired and unwanted medications, that is.
The sheriff’s office in late 2010 set up drop off sites, in hopes of reducing the potential for unused meds to fall into the hands of children, teenagers or adults who might misuse them.
Since they began keeping the numbers early the following year, more than 1,500 pounds of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications have been properly disposed of, according to Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.
The amount of drugs safely disposed of through the Drug Drop Box Program has increased each year, according to Brown.
Last year, the sheriff’s office collected almost 483 pounds, compared with almost 243 pounds in 2011.
Snaza says, in a news release today: “By using secure drug drop boxes instead of leaving expired or unused medications lying around we keep them out of the hands of teens and people who shouldn’t have them. We are also avoiding contaminating water sources by not flushing them down the toilet.
This program has been very successful and we encourage people to continue to utilize the drop boxes.”
Between them, the sheriff’s office and other agencies have five of them around Lewis County.
Bins for safe disposal are located at:
• Lewis County Law and Justice Center, 345 W. Main St., Chehalis
• Centralia Police Department, 316 N. Pearl Street, Centralia
• Morton Police Department, 260 Main St., Morton
• Lewis County Sheriff’s Office Packwood substation, 12990 U.S. Highway 12, Packwood
• Winlock Police Department, 323 N.E. First Street, Winlock