Creating a Medication-Safe Home: Insights from the Washington Poison Center 

Join Forefront Suicide Prevention for an important conversation with Alex Sirotzki, MPH, and Dr. Jimmy Leonard from the Washington Poison Center. 

Safe medication storage is a critical step in preventing suicide and overdose. Medications are one of the most common and most lethal means of self-harm, yet tragedies can often be prevented by creating safer home environments. By learning how to properly store, monitor, and dispose of medications—and by talking openly with patients and families about medication safety—health professionals and community members can reduce risk, save lives, and protect loved ones of all ages. 

This session will cover: 

• Practical steps for creating a medication-safe home 

• Insights from WA Poison Center call center data and statewide trends 

• Guidance on who to call and when in cases of concern or emergency 

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or health professional, you’ll leave with actionable strategies to reduce risk and promote safety. 

📅 Date/Time: 12- 1pm, September 25, 2025 
📍 Location: Virtual 
💲 Cost: Free  

Register here: [Insert registration link] 

This event is produced by Forefront Suicide Prevention and supported by the Washington State Department of Health 

This workshop has been approved for 1 CEU by the Washington Chapter, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Our Provider number is #1975-473. 

Jimmy Leonard, PharmD, DABAT is the Chief Clinical Officer of Washington Poison Center. Dr. Leonard received his pharmacy degree from Washington State University College of Pharmacy. After graduation, he completed a PGY1 Pharmacy residency at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, WA followed by a two-year fellowship in Clinical Toxicology at the Maryland Poison Center. Dr. Leonard’s previous experience includes time as a Clinical Toxicologist, Assistant Director, and Director of Clinical Services at the Maryland Poison Center where he held a faculty appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and taught poisoning management in a toxicology, critical care, and pediatrics electives. His research interests include toxicoepidemiology, poisoning prevention, and optimizing poisoning care. 

Alex Sirotzki, MPH has been a Public Health Education Specialist at the Washington Poison Center since 2019. In this role, he develops and delivers free-to-access education over a variety of topics, including vaping, opioids, cannabis, adolescent substance use, poison prevention, and more. He received his Master of Public Health from the University of Washington’s Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Program. In his spare time, you’ll likely find him with his spouse, dog, cat engaging with all things related to Star Trek and Star Wars, and playing his saxophone in some local Seattle bands.