Mohave County, AZ – Sharing isn’t caring when it comes to prescription drugs. The illusion that they are safer because it’s prescribed has fooled many as these drugs become far too easily accessible to our youth. YADAH, MAPPED and MSTEPP have partnered with the Havasu, Bullhead and Kingman Police Departments, along with the AZ Counter Drug Task Force (National Guard Civil Operations) and Mohave Community College to bring a safe, confidential option of disposing prescription drugs. This drive-thru-drop-off is easy and convenient!

“Properly disposing of old, unused, or expired medication is extremely important because it saves lives and protects the environment,” says Ricarda DeAnda, Arizona Youth Partnership Prevention Coordinator. Often pills end up in landfills, the water supply or in the hands of a child or potential abuser. Each month the Mohave County Police Departments receive an average of 80-100 pounds of medications per site in their local dropboxes.

“Holding events like this provide the opportunity for community awareness about the potential risks. When we choose to participate as a community, we are working together to create environmentally-friendly waste reduction that can also save lives. Most of the youth that abuse prescription medications are obtaining them from friends and family, often from a home medicine cabinet. “We encourage our community to join us in the prevention of drug addiction and overdose deaths,” says DeAnda. At all three of our locations, each participant will receive a goodie-bag, as a thank you for their contribution and commitment to our community.

Lake Havasu Dispose-a-Med Event
April 24, 2021, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Mohave Community College Campus
1977 W. Acoma Blvd., LHC

Bullhead City Dispose-a-Med Event
April 24, 2021, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Police Station Parking Lot
1255 Marina Blvd., BHC

Kingman Dispose-a-Med Event
April 24, 2021, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Police Station Parking Lot
2730 E. Andy Devine Ave., KNG

What Not To Bring: Liquids, needles (sharps) or glass.
For safety and confidentiality reasons, items turned over for collections cannot be returned.

If you are unable to attend, it is highly recommended to lock up your medications and when you are ready, dispose of them properly. To learn how to properly dispose of liquid drugs and needles, please visit www.fda.gov. You may find a local drop-off site near you by visiting: https://mstepp.org/dump-the-drugs.

To learn more about YADAH please visit: www.yadahlhc.org.
You can learn more about MSTEPP at www.mstepp.org and MAPPED on their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MAPPEDBHC/.

YADAH, founded in 2009, is a community coalition working to prevent the onset of substance use by our youth. Our goal is to engage community partners in making positive change for the Lake Havasu City community.

MSTEPP is a community coalition focused on the efforts towards substance use disorders and on the statewide strategies that were created to combat the opioid epidemic.

MAPPED is a local coalition motivated to empower the community in healthy decisions that impact substance abuse and other destructive behaviors. Focusing efforts on education, prevention and treatment through collaboration among local community partners.

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