The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department will once again partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency and collect potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction on Saturday, September 26, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. There will be three collection sites within the Sheriff’s jurisdiction including one in Rancho Cordova:

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Collection sites will accept any medicines in capsule and tablet form brought in for disposal. Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.

Prescription drug abuse is a serious public health and safety issue. This take-back event is an opportunity for residents to help make their homes safer by disposing of their unused and unwanted prescription drugs. For more details, or to find a collection site near you, please click here.