Walgreen's Launches Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk Program in Oregon

With three Oregonians dying every week from an overdose on opioids, efforts are underway to increase education and community involvement to fight the problem.

On Wednesday that meant a gathering of elected representatives and public health officials at the Walgreen's at Southeast 39th and Belmont to unveil the chain's new Safe Medication Disposal Kiosk Program.

It's located in six cities around the state and eventually in 500 around the country.

"Addiction to opioids and other prescription drugs is a life and death issue," said Senator Ron Wyden. "This program is a smart and targeted tool in the fight to stem this epidemic."

Dwight Holton, the former U.S. Attorney for Oregon and currently the executive director of Lines for Life, said the state's addiction problem starts in the medicine cabinets of homes around Oregon.

"One hundred million pills are prescribed in the state each year," said Holton. "That's 25 pills for every man, woman, and child in the state.

"Not every pill is used and that means there are many pills just sitting there. This program gives people a safe way to dispose of the pills."

The kiosks - which are available when the stores are open - are there for people to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescriptions including controlled substances and over the counter medications.

The six Walgreen's pharmacies in the program are:

Portland - 940 Southeast Cesar Chavez Boulevard

Beaverton - 14600 Murray Scholls Drive

Gresham - 1950 Northeast Burnside Road

Salem - 1992 Lancaster Drive Northeast

Redmond - 1450 South Highway 97

Grants Pass - 111 Union Avenue

Walgreen's says it will evaluate the program and expand as necessary.

Multnomah County Health Officer Paul Lewis says the county also has a kiosk it operates at its downtown health clinic.