Community Corner
DEA Drug Take-Back Day In Rohnert Park, Cotati: What To Know
The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and Cotati Police Department are participating in the DEA's National Drug Take-Back Day.
ROHNERT PARK AND COTATI, CA — The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the Cotati Police Department is participating in the upcoming U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
From 10 a.m until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, residents can drop off their unused or expired prescription medications.
COVID-19 safety precautions will be in place for drop-offs.
Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
What To Know In Cotati
The Cotati Police Department, with the DEA, will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs WILL NOT be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop-off locations provided lithium batteries are removed.
This event will be held at the Ray Miller Community Center (behind Cotati City Hall) at 216 East School Street.
Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Please remain in your vehicles, as this is a drive-thru event, and we ask that you wear your masks and have all prescription and over-the-counter drugs removed from bottles and bagged in a clear plastic baggie for disposal," Cotati police said.
What To Know In Rohnert Park
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, 500 City Center Drive, 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.
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.
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