WLEN Interview with Lenawee County Health Department Health Educator Becky Selenko

Woman’s Voice: The Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is a diverse group of dedicated community members united around the goal of reducing substance use in Lenawee County. LSAPC members work collaboratively to engage and educate the community in order to promote a healthy Lenawee.

Kathy Williams: This is Kathy Williams and with me on tonight’s program is Becky Selenko. And Becky is a health educator with the Lenawee County Health Department. And we’re going to be talking about medication lock bags. Becky, thanks for joining me for tonight’s program.

Becky Selenko: Thanks for inviting me.

Kathy Williams: So medication lock bags, what are they?

Becky Selenko: So, medication lock bags that we have been giving out are basically like a little like pouch that has a lock on it that can be personally configured, so that, to a combination that you remember, and then you can store your either marijuana or prescription drugs or that type of thing in them to keep them away from kids and pets.

Kathy Williams: I like the fact that it is the combo lock.  Not a key I could lose.

Becky Selenko: Correct. Now you just have to remember the combo, right?

Kathy Williams: Yeah. True. Well, it’s only three numbers, right?

Becky Selenko: Yeah.

Kathy Williams: So, Becky, how did you come to be in possession of all these lock bags?

Becky Selenko: So, the Health Department applied for a medical marijuana grant through the State of Michigan. And through those funds that we received, we were able to purchase 2000 of these lock bags.

Kathy Williams: That is a lot, but I’m sure they’re probably going quickly. What should I put inside of them then?

Becky Selenko: Well, they could hold anything really that you want to keep away from kids and pets, whether it be prescription medications, medical, marijuana, recreational marijuana, or even over the counter pills that you’re concerned about.  So any of those type of things would be appropriate for the lock bag.

Kathy Williams: So, there’s probably a few opportunities to actually get a lock bag. How can I find one?

Becky Selenko: Absolutely. Through the health department we’ve been going to different outreach events this summer. So we’ve been handing them out there.  We also will be at the Day of HOPE that the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is sponsoring at the end of August. So, we’re just trying to get out in the community. I’ve also been working with the local marijuana dispensaries to give them out to clients there.

Kathy Williams: Now, that’s great that they’re collaborating with you to help hand out the bags, because it is important sometimes to have what you need where you’re already at. And that’s, we were talking a little bit about that off-air is that, you’re trying to go where there are larger groups of people that will be able to, you know, take advantage of the bags that you have.

Becky Selenko: Exactly. I mean, it’s been a great partnership with those stores, just because, like you said, these are people that are already clients that are going there to purchase it.  So if they just can leave with a lock bag and don’t have to think about picking one up, then it, you know, kind of checks that box off of their list.

Kathy Williams: Yeah.  Now, if they don’t have a lock bag, though, we do want to remind them about some other places that they can take expired medication.

Becky Selenko: Oh, sure, absolutely. In the county we have red barrels, which are at local police and sheriff departments. There’s the Drug Take-Back Day, which happens twice a year in April and October. There’s also a disposal bin at Meijer pharmacy, as well as ProMedica ER, and then the Substance Abuse Coalition has the Deterra pouches, which safely deactivates the medication so that it can be thrown away in the household trash.

Kathy Williams: One of the biggest reasons that we want to promote the Lock it Up campaign is to hopefully help deter our younger adults and children from getting their hands on things they shouldn’t.

Becky Selenko: Absolutely.  In the State of Michigan, they’ve seen an uptick in the number of calls to the Poison Control Center since recreational marijuana became legal in Michigan. So, they really want to get the word out, or we really want to get the word out that if you have, you know, items that may look like food or candy to young children that you want to, you know make sure you keep that locked up so they don’t have access to it.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Now you do go to different events, you were saying that you’re trying to get to the farmer’s markets even.

Becky Selenko: Yes. I was just at the Adrian Farmer’s Market last, this past weekend and try to get to Tecumseh about once a month, just to kind of hit those areas where people are out and about and engage with the community.

Kathy Williams: Right. Well, I think it’s an important message of course, to get out and, a really nice bag. I mean, it looks like it would do the job.

Becky Selenko: Yeah, absolutely. We’ve been happy with the size of it and also kind of how it works. It’s simple, but it’s also, you know, provides protection, So…

Kathy Williams: Yeah. Very effective. Yeah. Becky, if people are interested in finding out more about the bags or talking to you directly, how can they get ahold of you?

Becky Selenko: Sure they can call me at the Health Department at my phone number is (517) 264-5253.

Kathy Williams: That’s “Becky Selenko” that you’re want to ask for.

Becky Selenko: Correct.

Kathy Williams: And Becky, we also, you and I talked that you would be interested in speaking at some service clubs and other, you know, large gatherings.  If people are interested in having you come in as a guest speaker.

Becky Selenko: Sure. That would be, that’d be great. We’re just doing everything we can to kind of get the word out about, you know, lock it up. That’s the safe way to handle your prescription drugs and marijuana.

Kathy Williams: And these are available to anyone in Lenawee County is the other thing we want to make sure our listeners know that it’s not just Adrian and Tecumseh.  So, you know, we’re encouraging people, even if they don’t need the bag themselves, if they know someone else who should, then maybe get it for them.

Becky Selenko: Yeah, absolutely.  A lot of times grandkids may spend time with their, you know, grandparents who, you know… It’s something to think about for the whole family, not just the adults in the family.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. You know, it might be also helpful for someone who maybe is a caregiver and sometimes you have clients that are possibly overmedicating themselves.  This would be a great way to secure those.

Becky Selenko: Yes, absolutely. And the nice part about the bag is that it’s big enough to hold quite a few items, but then it can also be, can also travel too.  So that’s another plus of it.

Kathy Williams: Exactly. Well, we want to remind people then they can go to the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Facebook page, and also get more information on the website, DrugPreventionLenawee.com. Becky, is there anything else you’d like to add?  It’s all about education.

Becky Selenko: It is all about education. You’re right. Just that we’re trying to, you know, keep kids and our pets safe in our community. So, this is just one of the things that we’re trying to do at the Health Department.

Kathy Williams So there you go. Thank you so much.

Becky Selenko: Thank you.

Woman’s Voice: Thank you for listening. This information has been provided by the Lenawee Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Supported by funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration.  New messages air on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:15 p.m. You can listen to this program as a podcast under the audio tab on WLEN.com and listen and gather more information at DrugPreventionLenawee.com.