Cheney Free Press -

Cheney residents will soon have a permanent location where they can dispose of unused, out-of-date prescription drugs.

Once approvals are given, the Cheney Police Department will be home to a drop box that residents can use to safely dispose of unused prescription drugs. Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101 community prevention coalition coordinator Jessica Deutsch said the drop box idea came out of the drug take-back program held during Cheney Clean Sweep on April 25.

ESD 101 hosted the take-back at Cheney’s CHAS clinic, and police Sgt. Nate Conley informed the city about the program. Clean Sweep coordinator Sue Beeman contacted ESD101 and asked if they would like to be included in the Clean Sweep program, and they said they would.

Deutsch said the take-back was a huge success, collecting 80.4 pounds of prescription drugs that Saturday. She said the Airway Heights Police Department has a similar take-back program, and officers helping at CHAS relayed how successful their collections have been.

A survey was created and passed out to people participating in the take-back at CHAS.

“Everyone except one person said they would use the drop box,” Deutsche said.

Deutsche said Conley talked to Cheney officials who expressed support about including a box. At press time, she said officials from the Washington State Poison Control Center had provided additional information on requirements for hosting a drug drop box and how those needed to be addressed through hosting it at a police department.

One of those was the need for the box to be removed to a locked area at the end of each business day — something locations typically hosting a box such as medical officers must address. Police departments are different.

“A police department never closes,” Deutsche said.

Deutsche said the response from the Poison Control Center was positive, and they were just awaiting final approvals from Cheney before proceeding.

“(We’re) just waiting on Nate Conley to give the okay and set the date for delivery of the permanent drop box,” she said.

Once approved, the box will likely be placed in the department’s lobby, Deutsche added.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.