National Prescription Drug Take-Back Campaign
On October 26, 2013, our police department will join with the Drug Enforcement Administration in this national campaign and offer the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by disposing their dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Members of the community are invited to drop off medications for disposal at the designated location outside the Santa Clara Police Department. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last April, Americans turned in 371 tons (over 742,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In its six previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2.8 million pounds—more than 1,400 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.
Drop off location: Santa Clara Police Department, 601 El Camino Real (front parking lot)
Date and Time of Event: Saturday, October 26, 2013 between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Additional information is available online at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugdisposal/takeback.
Address/Location
Santa Clara Police Department
601 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 408-615-5580
Lieutenant Kurt Clarke
Administrative
[email protected]
408-615-4828
601 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050