Sentinel staff report–
This Saturday, the Citrus Heights Police Department and 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. The free event is anonymous and no questions will be asked, police said.
The Saturday drop-off event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police department, located at 6315 Fountain Square Dr.
In a news release, police called the drug take-back day a way to address “a vital public safety and public health issue,” warning that old medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.” The statement also called prescription drug use “alarmingly high” and noted a high number of accidental poisonings from prescription drugs as well.
Studies referenced by police indicate that drugs are often obtained from medicine cabinets, or from family and friends. Officials now advise those with prescription meds that common methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Participants are asked to dispose of containers at home and bring pills in zip lock bags. Pills can be combined into one bag and patches can be removed from boxes but “must be left in the sealed factory envelope and placed in the zip lock bags with the pills,” police said.
Liquids, needles, and sharps will not be accepted at the event.
Related: Citrus Heights offering free locks for prescription pills to help curb misuse
