MEDICATION SAFE
STORAGE PROGRAM
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is piloting a program to provide medication locking devices into the hands of those who need them. Through this program, HCA will supply medication locking bags and lockboxes to partner organizations who will distribute the locking devices to their communities. The goal is to encourage medication safe storage and to help people overcome barriers (financial or otherwise) to locking up.
This pilot program is part of HCA’s Starts with One campaign, a prevention campaign designed to inform and educate Washingtonians about prescription opioid misuse and to promote safe storage and safe disposal practices.
Program Requirements
Partner organizations can include, but are not limited to, treatment and recovery centers, therapeutic courts, prevention coalitions, and other providers/prescribers. Participating organizations are required to:
- Distribute the locking devices (and supporting educational material) directly to community members, whether at events or as part of your organization’s services.
- Track the number of locking devices distributed by your organization during the duration of the program.
- Share feedback and total number of distributed locking devices with the program manager by completing a required survey at the end of the program.
How to Participate
While supplies last, organizations can submit a request for medication locking devices through the Medication Safe Storage Program.
Fill out the order form to submit a request. Orders will be fulfilled at the start of each week. You will be notified when your order is mailed.
When distributing locking devices to community members, you will have the opportunity to discuss the importance of medication safe storage. We encourage you to share these key messages during your conversations:
- Nearly half of people misusing pain relievers, including prescription opioids, get them from a friend or family member.
- Safe storage of medication can prevent misuse, theft, or accidental ingestion by children or pets.
- The simple step of locking up your medication can help keep your family and loved ones safe.
- Commit to always locking up your medication, especially prescription opioids.
- When no longer needed, dispose of unused medications safely at a medication return kiosk near you. Find a location or to request a mail-back envelope at MedTakeBackWashington.org.
What You Will Receive
Partner organizations will receive the following materials to distribute to community members:
- Locking medication devices (up to 50 lockboxes and 100 locking bags)
- Rack cards with information about medication safe storage and opioid misuse prevention
- “I lock up my meds” pens
