According to Cara Gresham of the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, prescription drug abuse is on the rise and is second only to marijuana.

“According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, young adults ages 18 to 25 have the highest rate of prescription drug abuse, followed by teens ages 12 to 17,” she writes. “… 71,000 children under the age of 18 are seen every year in emergency rooms due to unintentional prescription or over-the-counter medication overdoses.”

In many cases, medications are obtained from friends or from home. The Medication Take Back Program offers an easy and safe way for islanders to dispose of expired and unused medications.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department, the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition and local pharmacies will accept expired and unused medications on the first Wednesday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., beginning Aug. 4. A sheriff’s deputy will be on site during those hours to collect the medication.

On San Juan Island, islanders can take their medications to Friday Harbor Drug. That’s Aug. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about this program, contact Gresham at 378-9683 or Cara.preventionsanjuan@hotmail.com.