On September 26th from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your medications for disposal to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office at 1415 Sheriff Cady Lane, in Susanville. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
This program was temporarily suspended in 2014 due to pending legislation, but has been reinstated until a long term remedy is put into place. Until that time, local law enforcement agencies like the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.
If you have any questions about this program please call the Sheriff’s Office at (530) 251-8013.
