Law Enforcement Participates in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 11th opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

• Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez, CA (Field Operations Building)
• Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond, CA (West County Detention Facility)
• Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA
• Lafayette Police Department, 3675 Mt. Diablo Way, Suite 130, Lafayette, CA
• Oakley Police Department, 3231 Main Street, Oakley, CA
• Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA

Last September, Americans turned in over 702,000 pounds of prescription drugs at over 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its ten previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 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 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.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30, 2016 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov

Antioch, Brentwood and Pittsburg Police will also Participate
On April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Antioch and Brentwood Police Departments will give the public its 11th opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to:

• Antioch Police Department at 300 L Street, Antioch
• Brentwood Police Department at 9100 Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood
• Pittsburg Police Department at 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg