Law enforcement agencies throughout the Sacramento region will join the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday.
During the event, agencies will offer convenient locations where people can drop off their expired, unused and unwanted pills free of charge, with no questions asked. By doing so, officials say, the public can help prevent drug abuse and theft.
Drop-off sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Prescription drugs that languish in home medicine cabinets are susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse, creating a public health crisis, according a U.S. Department of Justice news release. Nationwide, 2 1/2 times more people abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants combined, according to the recently released 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The study showed that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
To find a nearby collection site, see the Drug Enforcement Administration website, www.dea.gov , and click on the "Got Drugs?" banner, which links to a database where you can enter you zip code.
Area drop-off sites include:
Sacramento County:
• Sheriff's Garfield Station, 5510 Garfield Ave.
• Sheriff's Florin Station, 7000 65th St.
• Antelope High School, 7801 Titan Drive
• Rancho Cordova Police Department, 7801 Kilgore Road, Rancho Cordova
• Elk Grove Police Department, 8380 Laguna Palms Way, No. 100, Elk Grove
• Citrus Heights Police Department, 6315 Fountain Square, Citrus Heights
• Sacramento Police Department, Public Safety Center, 5770 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento
El Dorado County:
• El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, Main Office, 300 Fair Lane, Placerville
• Sheriff's El Dorado Hills Substation, 4354 Town Center Drive, Suite 112, El Dorado Hills
• Buffalo Hill Center, 6049 Front St., Georgetown
• Safeway, 1020 Johnson Lane, South Lake Tahoe
Placer County:
• Oakmont High School, 1710 Cirby Way, Roseville
• Roseville High School, 1 Tiger Way, Roseville
• Woodcreek High School 2551 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd., Roseville
• Sierra College, Parking Lot D, corner of Rocklin Road and El Don Drive, Rocklin
• Whitney High School, 701 Wildcat Blvd., Rocklin
• Auburn City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn
• Sheriff's Substation, 6140 Horseshoe Bar Road, Loomis
• Granite Bay High School, 1 Grizzly Way, Granite Bay
• Lincoln Police Department, 770 Seventh St.
• Tahoe City Fire Department, 300 North Lake Blvd.
Yolo County
• Woodland Police Department, 1000 Lincoln Ave., Woodland
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