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A number of law enforcement agencies in the Tri-Valley have announced plans to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) national Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, doing so in an effort to combat prescription drug abuse locally.
Held annually in order to help prevent the abuse of unused drugs, residents can attend one of the drug disposal locations throughout the East Bay in order to safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs.
“The partnership between the police and the community is what makes Danville such a great place to live and raise a family,” Danville Police Chief Allan Shields said. “Events like our Drug Takeback event encourage residents to get rid of their unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs, reducing the chance for abuse, theft or accidents.”
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in that year. According to the DEA, the majority of misused prescription drugs during that year were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
At the event, officials will accept pills and other solids such as patches and liquids in consumer containers for safe disposal. Items that will not be accepted include illicit drugs, intravenous solutions, needles and other sharps.
For ease of disposal, participants are asked to place the medications in a sealed bag for drop-off.
For the free and anonymous event, San Ramon Valley residents can bring their prescription drugs to the Danville Town Offices, 510 La Gonda Way, or the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Blackhawk station, 1092 Eagle Nest Place, Danville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Participating regional agencies include the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Danville Police Department, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and Dublin Police Services.
A full list of locations throughout the Bay Area where residents can drop off their prescriptions on Drug Takeback Day can be found online at www.takebackday.dea.gov.
Individuals who cannot attend the Drug Takeback Day can still drop off unused drugs, including sharps, in bins at the front desk of the Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, during normal business hours.
Residents in San Ramon can also drop off their unused pharmaceuticals at the San Ramon Police Department drop box, 2401 Crow Canyon Road, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
