The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. 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 April 30th, from 10:00 until 2:00p.m.
Bring your pills for disposal to the front lobby of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, 1415 Sheriff Cady Lane. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
In recent takeback events Americans turned in nearly 469 tons (more than 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 11.8 million pounds – approximately 5,900 tons – of pills.
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 United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen 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.
Collection protocols are as follows:
- This program is anonymous and all effort will be made to protect the anonymity of individuals disposing of medications. No questions or requests for identification will be made.
- All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process. Law Enforcement personnel will not handle the medications at any time.
- No effort will be made by Law Enforcement personnel to count, inventory, or log medications.
- Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If the original container is submitted, you are encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
- All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
- Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
- Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.
- Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices will be collected only after the batteries are removed from the device. If the battery cannot be removed, you can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the device for proper removal.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
