Community Corner
DEA Drug Take-Back Day In Petaluma: Where To Drop Off Medications
The Petaluma Police Department is participating Saturday in the national event. Here's what to know.
PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department is participating in the upcoming U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day by hosting a local prescription drug drop-off location.
From 10 a.m until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, drivers can pull up to the Petaluma Police Department, 969 Petaluma Blvd. North, and quickly hand off their unused or expired prescription medications without having to exit their car.
COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place for drop-offs.
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What To Know
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.
Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
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Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted due to the potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens.
About Take-Back Day
The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 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 2019, according to a news release.
The DEA’s Take-Back Day event provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
More than 4,445 law enforcement agencies across the nation participated in the 20th National Take-Back on April 24, and 839,543 pounds of drugs were turned in.
California had 48,688 pounds turned in — the second-highest amount among states.
Last April in Sonoma County, 666.3 pounds of unused, expired prescriptions were turned in on Take-Back Day.
The Petaluma Police Department said it is "committed to helping our community safely dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs while working to reduce the addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country due to opioid medications."
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