Prescription Drug Take Back Day Set for April 17

Young people don’t need to prowl some dark street corner to get their hands on dangerous drugs.  Many have turned to getting high on prescription medications, and the number one source is their parents’ homes.  The County is giving you an opportunity to clean yours out.

Prescription Drug Take Back Day offers a convenient way for you to safely get rid of unused and expired medications – no questions asked.  On April 17, six locations around the county will be set up as drop-off points.  The collection is recommended as an alternative to throwing out drugs yourself because of environmental concerns involving some medications.  All the drugs received will be taken for environmentally-friendly disposal.   

The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Prevention and treatment providers will also be on hand to answer questions.

Some of the prescription medications most commonly abused by teens are painkillers, depressants and stimulants.  Abusing these drugs can cause severe health problems or even be deadly.

Concerns about misuse of one painkiller in particular, Oxycontin, led to the formation of a multi-agency Oxy Task Force of San Diego County.  The Take Back Day was organized by task force member agencies, including the Board of Supervisors, Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office, and the Health and Human Services Agency.

For more information about the event, contact the San Diego Sheriff’s Office of Public Affairs at (858) 974-2259.

 Prescription Drug Take Back Day Drop-off Locations

Email Updates  Get County news and information delivered to your inbox