Pharmacy receives award from VARSA
Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 9, 2017
To celebrate the huge contribution its staff has made to supporting Vashon Alliance to Reduce Substance Abuse and getting a permanent prescription drug disposal box installed, Vashon Pharmacy has received the organization’s Community Commitment Award.
“All the pharmacy staff have been instrumental in supporting our Drug Take Back days, as well as working with us for over three years to become the first location in King County to pilot the prescription drug disposal box,” Lee Kopines, committee chair for VARSA’s Drug Take Back initiative said in a statement. “VARSA wanted to recognize their efforts through our first Community Commitment Award. Our hope is to continue to partner with local organizations and celebrate their commitment to reduce underage substance use in our community with this annual presentation.”
The pharmacy received the box in the fall of 2016 and it is the only on-island disposal site for prescription medication. It supplements the twice yearly VARSA booths at the farmers market that offer the same service and have gathered more than 400 pounds of prescription medication. VARSA Grant Coordinator Lisa Bruce said the booths allow the organization to “engage with the public, and ensure the community is aware of the importance of disposing of and locking up prescription meds.”
VARSA recently participated in National Drug Take Back Day and distributed medication lock-bags to keep prescription drugs (and other potentially dangerous items) away from the curious fingers of children. Free liquor cabinet and firearms locks were also given away.
According to VARSA, the 2016 Healthy Youth Survey showed an increase in prescription drug misuse among Vashon teens, making the box at the pharmacy that much more important.
“Prescription drugs are popular because they’re relatively easy to get, perceived to be safe and don’t have the stigma that other drugs like heroin or methamphetamines have,” VARSA Chair Lisa MacLeod said in a statement. “As misuse and experimentation among teens increases, the perception of harm decreases.”
Vashon’s free, permanent drug disposal box is available inside Vashon Pharmacy.
