Got Drugs? Police Collecting Unused Prescription Medications for National Take Back Day

On April 26, the Livermore Police Department will be participating in a nationwide prescription drug take back event.  

This event will take place in front of the Livermore Police Department located  at 1110 S. Livermore Avenue from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  

The Livermore Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  

The services are free and anonymous, no questions asked. 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  

Last April, Americans turned in 552,161 pounds—276 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,600 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners.  

In its four previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 1.5 million pounds—nearly 775 tons—of pills.

Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box.  

If an original container  is  submitted,  the  individual  should  remove  any identifying information  from  the  prescription  label.  All  solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers may be dropped.

Intravenous  solutions, injectables, and syringes WILL NOT be accepted due to potential hazards posed by bloodborne pathogens.

—Information provided by Livermore Police