County, Features

What’s hiding in your medicine cabinet?

RBC | Check your medicine cabinet, or kitchen cupboard, or wherever you keep your prescriptions. Are you harboring expired, unused or leftover prescriptions or over-the-counter medications? If you are, it’s time to take action, for your safety and that of your loved ones.

“If you think opioid addiction can’t happen to you and your family in Rio Blanco County, you are wrong,” ~ RBC Public Health Nurse Janelle Borchard via email

“Having unused or leftover medication sitting in your medicine cabinet for a rainy day is potentially putting anyone at risk that happens to open the cabinet. This could be your child, grandchild or other family member or friend,” Borchard said.
According to a recent Colorado survey of former and current heroin users, 70 percent started with prescription opioids (painkillers). Of those, 31.4 percent reported getting them from a friend, and 20 percent got them from a family member or stole them from a family member.
Meeker and Rangely residents have the option of disposing of unused medications at two secure drop boxes, one at Meeker Drugs and one at Rangely District Hospital. The box in Rangely was paid for through a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment grant Borchard applied for and received.
The medications put in the boxes are transported for incineration at the Hampton/NASA Steam Plant in Hampton, Va. Steam produced at the plant is used as a source of energy at NASA’s Langely Research Center.
“Pharmacies, hospitals, sheriff and police department across the country are installing them,” Borchard said, partially in hopes that removing old prescriptions from homes will decrease accessibility, and in turn, decrease the future numbers of people addicted to prescription pain medications.
“Our region is one of the highest in the state for opioid-related overdoses,” Borchard said. Rio Blanco County, had the second highest overdose death rate of 52.2 per 100,000 in 2016, with three deaths attributed to overdoses.
There’s no guarantee that safe disposal of unused medications in secure drop boxes will thwart an addiction or prevent an accidental overdose, but it does guarantee reducing the risk of those events.
With the holidays coming up, and family and friends coming in, now is a good time to clear out those old medications.
– DO take expired, unused or leftover prescriptions to secure drop boxes at Meeker Drugs or Rangely District Hospital.
– DON’T flush them.
This sends medications into the water system and can cause problems for aquatic life, and potentially, harm to the water supply.
– DON’T toss them in the trash.
Simply throwing unused prescriptions away is problematic for two reasons: potential harm to the environment and the potential for medications and/or prescription information to be stolen.
– DON’T share them with friends or family members. Keep medication in a locked cabinet and always dispose of unused, expired or leftover medication following the guidelines above.

By NIKI TURNER | [email protected]

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  • Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
  • Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce!

Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues!
@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
  • More freudenfreude, less schadenfreude… Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
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Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
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@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce! Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues! @bailey_waldref_rew 💚💚💚 Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! #locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
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🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
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The Cowboys played in their first golf tournament in the spring at Chipeta, “it was a bit of a cloudy and windy day but it was awesome to see some grass and a golf course,” commented head coach Amanda Back. Vivian Brown, pictured on the left, broke 100 and shot a 94 and Jayda May second from right shot a 99. From the far right, excluding those that have been mentioned, Averee Woodward, Joelle Soler, Mia Pinzon, Aurora Stalling, and Kailynn Watson all played scramble. This was Pinzon’s, Stalling’s and Watson’s first tournament as Meeker High School girl golfers. “It’s going to be a great season,” ended Back.
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Mountain Sage Therapeutics held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 640 Main St. in Meeker. Owners Teresa Wilde and Justin Noller offer movement, energy, and massage therapy for animals and their human companions. They are pictured here with the Chamber of Commerce and local citizens who attended. View their service on their website at www.mountainsagetherapeutics.abmp.com and contact them for an appointment 970-706-8445.
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View on Instagram |
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“For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.”
Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
Members of the Rio Blanco Golf Association got a jump on spring this past week as volunteers shoveled and blew the snow off the greens. The winter’s snow and ice layers suffocate the fragile bent grass putting surfaces and getting the snow off allows Mother Nature to start her healing process earlier. “For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.” Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
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