Addressing a crucial public safety and public health issue involving the misuse of controlled prescription drugs, those wanting to get rid of any they may have can drop them off at numerous East Bay sites Saturday as part of the 17th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement partners, the program’s purpose is to collect drugs that may be vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse and to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. There will be more than 140 collection sites statewide.
The DEA said according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study also showed a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinets.
DEA San Francisco Field Division Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen said in a statement “prescription drugs in the home are susceptible to diversion and misuse. Take Back Day provides a free and anonymous opportunity to dispose of unwanted medication in an environmentally safe manner. By participating in this event you are making your home and our community safer.” Last year 457 tons of such drugs were turned in nationwide on take back day, the DEA said.
Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, whose office has collected nearly 3,000 pounds of such drugs for destruction in the 16 years it has participated, said all unwanted medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, including pet medications, will be accepted.
O’Malley said “Safe disposal reduces the chance that the medications will be misused or abused and ensures that they won’t be disposed of in a way that is harmful to the environment” like going to a landfill or going through a water system.
Sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Liquids, needles or sharps will not be accepted,
The district attorney’s collection sites will be at the Alameda Hall of Justice, 2233 Shoreline Dr. in Alameda, the Alameda County Family Justice Center, 470 27th St., in Oakland, the East County Hall of Justice, 5151 Gleason Dr., Dublin and the Fremont Hall of Justice, 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway.
Other Alameda County collection centers will be at the Dublin, Hayward, Livermore, and Union City police departments, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Eden Township substation in San Leandro and the Castro Valley Library.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting drugs at its Muir Station, 1980 Muir Rd., in Martinez and its Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway in Richmond. Drop off sites will also be at the Danville, Lafayette, Orinda, Kensington, Brentwood, Antioch and San Ramon police departments and the Richmond police substation at Hilltop Mall.
To get additional information about collection sites and other participating agencies, go to DEATakeBack.com or call 800-882-9539.