Full Notification

Riverside County Sheriff's / D.E.A. "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day"
Throughout Riverside County on Oct. 26

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is proud to announce its partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” day. The event will take place on Saturday, October 26, 2013, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. The program allows members of the public to drop off potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at any of the below listed Sheriff’s Stations throughout Riverside County.

Previous “Take Back” programs have been very successful in Riverside County. In 2012, Riverside County residents disposed of 2,124 pounds of unwanted and outdated prescription drugs.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, 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, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

More information can be found by going to: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of Attorneys General, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National District Attorney’s Association.

The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

The next Prescription Drug Take-Back Program is taking place on Saturday, October 26, 2013, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the following Sheriff’s Stations:

Cabazon Sheriff's Station
Hemet Sheriff's Station
Jurupa Valley Station
Lake Elsinore Station
Moreno Valley Police
Palm Desert Station
Perris Station
Southwest Station
Thermal Station

http://www.riversidesheriff.org/press/admin13-1026-1.asp