Lethal Means Safety
Lethal means safety is measured by how many dangerous items or objects a person has access to, and by how lethal each of those things is. Firearms, as well as certain poisons and medications, are the most lethal items commonly found in American homes. Putting time and space between someone having a suicidal crisis and the lethal means in their environment can save their life. On this page you will find resources that will help you assess, plan for and improve lethal means safety for yourself and others.
- Community Resources
- Firearm Safety
- Keep it Safe Program
- Prescription drug safety and proper disposal
Resources to help you evaluate and plan for lethal means safety:
- Keep it Safe - bifold brochure (PDF)
- Keep it Safe - bifold brochure - Spanish (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety Flyer (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety Flyer - Spanish (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety card for Gun Shops (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety card for Gun Shops - Spanish (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety - Long Arms Storage Flyer (PDF)
- Lethal Means Safety - Long Arms Storage - Spanish (PDF)
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
- Project Child Safe
Free cable gun locks are available at the following locations in Humboldt County:
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office
826 Fourth St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-445-7251
Eureka Police Department
604 C St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-441-4060
Ferndale Police Department
600 Berding St.
Ferndale, CA 95536
707-786-4025
Free lockboxes can be obtained from Humboldt County Public Health’s Suicide and Violence Prevention Program. Call the Community Wellness Center at 707-268-2132 or email publichealthsvp@co.humboldt.ca.us to request a lockbox.
Free lockboxes are also available when purchasing a new gun or with other qualifying purchases at our Gun Shop Project Partners:
RMI Outdoors
1240 Broadway
Eureka, CA 95501
707-443-7029
Ballistic Precision
640 W Cedar St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-798-5155
Pacific Outfitters of Eureka
1600 Fifth St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-443-6328
Additional Firearm Safety Resources:
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) – a free, self-paced course that provides guidance on how to counsel people about lethal means safety.
- Lock2live.org – a source for advice on lethal means safety and an anonymous safety planning tool
- Firearmlifeplan.org – a planning tool for what happens with our firearms as we age and after death Walkthetalkamerica.org – a source for information on lethal means safety and extensive reflection and conversation between the gun community and the community of mental health practitioners.
Humboldt County's Suicide and Violence Prevention Program has partnered with the Substance Use Prevention Program to create Keep it Safe, a community coalition for lethal means safety that focuses on safe storage of firearms and medications, proper locations and methods of drug disposal and promoting community awareness about lethal means safety.
Local Medication Disposal Bins
Do you have expired, unused or unwanted medications? These pharmacies have bins that can take unused or expired medications. They accept controlled substances, like prescription painkillers. These bins help keep communities, waterways and wildlife safe. Call DHHS Healthy Communities for more information.
Directions:
- Remove medications from containers
- Place them in sealed or zipped plastic bags
- Drop them into the bin
- Do not drop off sharps (needles, syringes, Epi Pens).
Safely dispose of medications at the following locations:
Arcata Police Department
736 F St.
Arcata, CA 95521
707-822-2428
Barnes Arcata Family Drug
1080 G St.
Arcata, CA 95521
707-822-2496
Eureka Police Department
604 C St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-441-4060
Green's Pharmacy
906 Main St.
Fortuna, CA 95540
707-725-4431
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office
826 Fourth St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-445-7251
Humboldt County Sheriff's Office
715 Cedar St.
Garberville, CA 95542
707-764-3591
Palco Pharmacy
113 Main St.
Scotia, CA 95565
707-764-3591
Ring's Pharmacy
362 Main St.
Ferndale, CA 95536
707-786-4511
Willow Creek Pharmacy
39050 U.S. Highway 299
Willow Creek, CA 95573
530-629-3144
Medication Safety Resources
An increasing avenue for abuse stems from kids accessing unlocked medicine cabinets in their own homes. Reducing adverse consequences from alcohol and other drug use involves separating those at risk from the means to harm themselves. Additional community and online resources include:
Contact Us
-
Healthy Communities
Community Wellness Center
908 Seventh St., Eureka, CA 95501
Ph. 1-707-268-2132
908 7th St, Eureka
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed
noon – 1 p.m. -
24-hour Mental Health Crisis Line
Ph: 1-707-445-7715
Toll-free Mental Health Crisis Line
Ph: 1-888-849-5728