Operation Medicine Cabinet Clean-out - Saturday, October 26, 2019 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Hello WPHS community!

I just wanted to take the time to share some information with all of you. October 26th is a drug take back day. It’s free and there are no questions asked. Safe drug disposal is very important because it prevents accidental poisoning, protects the environment, and prevents drug abuse. 

As you know, opioid use has been on the rise nationally and here in Fairfax County. Opioid abuse is now the leading cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. You can have a positive impact on preventing opioid abuse by doing a few simple things at home. Prescriptions in the home are one of the primary ways children gain access to opioids (i.e. OxyContin), and other addictive and harmful medications, such as benzodiazepines (i.e. Xanax). In a study completed by Academic Pediatrics (2018), researchers found that 35 percent of households with a child older than ten years old had an opioid prescription in the home and 66 percent of those people planned to keep the leftover opioids for future use. Additionally, the study found that 13 percent of respondents said they would give leftover medication to an adolescent in their home to manage pain. You can make a beneficial impact on this issue by not saving medication for future use, properly disposing of unused medication, and not giving your prescriptions to children. If you cannot make it to a designated drug disposal site on October 26, you can access a drug disposal kit at designated locations throughout the county. Use this web address to find a location near you https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/drug-disposal. If you would like to refer a student or get more information you can email me at eaknudson@fcps.edu or call me at 703.718.2749

See the attached fliers for location and more information.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b5PS3noj0Ifq1FVAAi2rBoal3v-Yh8Yh/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-nZbd3SVHUj14C1AU9qX0b-foLQPqyxk/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BgXhbMbwajpPHHfNBLTCnHOL4hXTnU10/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x0LccbO_MzzKLgaVUbo87D16k64DH2Jy/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dQuaSPZ8KEnsj-gwunZ_Z45s-zh9b28k/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18tL8459bj9NvqR--YxR7nhsijVWZqtx6/view?usp=sharing