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Estefanny Carrera a dental receptionist at Peninsula Community Health Services with the medicine disposal box in the lobby.(Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun)

In their first year of operation, Kitsap's medicine drop-offkioskssaw a ton of action... literally.

Kitsaps MED-Project collected more than 3,800 pounds of medicine last year,according to the programs first annual report. And public health officials expect that number will only increase as more people learn about the free service.

After the Kitsap Public Health District overhauled a medicine take-back program a few years ago,the program has gradually expanded to 13 kiosks, as well as amail-in site, at pharmacies, health care clinics and law enforcement offices across Kitsap County.

Its kind of been a slow rollout across the country with more and more partners coming out and convenientlocations across the county, said Kitsap Public Health District spokesman Tad Sooter.

MED-Project, a contractor hired by drug manufacturers, began operating in March 2018. That came after the Kitsap Public Health Board voted in 2016 to require drug manufacturers to install and handle medicine disposal kiosksfollowing similar ordinances passed in King and Snohomish counties.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Officepreviously offered medicine disposals at several locations, but the health district had said the program was inadequate. Many residents were looking for more convenient access.

I think that this program, in contrast to some of the historical programs, has a little more enthusiasm, said Bryan McKinnon,with the public health districts Solid and Hazardous Waste program. People are really happy to have options.

The new program hasmore drop-off locations, but the sheriff's medicine disposal system does not have data to track usage trends, said Jan Brower, Solid and Hazardous Waste manager.

Still, Brower expects to see a rise in the number of medicine drop-offs in the coming years. Were hoping as the program matures, and we do more education and outreach, even more people will participate in the program, she said.

Erica Liebelt, executive and medical director of the Washington Poison Center, says secure medicine drop-off programs like the one in Kitsap help preventaccidental poisoning and drug abuse and curtailenvironmental pollution.

Medications left in the household increase the risk that people who shouldn't be taking them would use them in the wrong fashion, she said. The bottom line is we dont want unused medications lying around the house with the vulnerability of people who shouldnt be getting them.

In Washington, poisonings from pain medications were the most frequent calls to the Washington Poison Center last year. Studies have found that about 70 percent of those who abuse prescription medicine obtain the drugs from friends or family, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Having unused medicine lying around the house can be especially dangerous for young children, Liebelt said.

In 2015, there were nearly 500 calls to the Washington Poison Center regarding accidental medication poisoning of children 6 and younger in Kitsap County, according to the public health district.

Kitsap is among six counties in Washington state with the medicine drop-off service. But next year, Washington will implement a statewide medicine disposal program funded by drug manufacturers, which is expected to start between spring and late fall of 2020.

Brower, of the Kitsap Public Health District, hopes the statewide program will continue to spread awareness.

Moving forward we really want to focus on getting the information out there so everyone knows what to do with expired or unused medication, she said.

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Medicine disposal kiosks collect nearly two tons in first year of operation - Kitsap Sun