Police to Hold Drug Take Back Event

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On April 28, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the , police will be participating in a nationwide prescription drug take back event. 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. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high; more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

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 products and liquids in consumer containers may be dropped.  Intra-venous solutions, injectibles and syringes WILL NOT be accepted due to the potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.