On Saturday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
“This is a great way to get rid of unused prescription drugs in our homes,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “These drugs could fall into the wrong hands and harm family members and friends. This is an opportunity for everyone to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.”
Needles and sharps cannot be accepted; only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container will be accepted. Vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers are accepted only after the batteries are removed from the devices.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Bring your pills for disposal at the following sites. COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
DROP OFF LOCATIONS:
- Office of the Sheriff Muir Station, 1980 Muir Road, Martinez.
- Office of the Sheriff Bay Station, 5555 Giant Highway, Richmond.
- Office of the Sheriff Valley Station, 150 Alamo Plaza, #C, Alamo.
- Danville Police Department, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville.
- Orinda Police Department, 22 Orinda Way, Orinda.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people aged 12 or older misused prescription pain relievers in the past year.
The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website at: www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
15 comments
Great, thanks for the info!
Where can I dispose of ‘Sharps’ ? I have several, unfortunately collected during my walks; nice residential neighborhoods. Some have needles and some are just the syringe…..all indicate use for insulin, but who knows….
Where can I safely dispose of?
Why are taxpayers encouraging quitters? How disgraceful.
This is embarrassing and un-American!
I got a lot of leftover medication from an rx medication that gave me terrible side affects. Sometimes it’s not all about quitters or taxpayers; some of us just want to do the right thing and safely dispose old medications that don’t have any use to us anymore. Let’s look at the picture here. Not everything is about politics. Pete’s sake man.. Some of you are insufferable.
That seems to me contusing, what does “only pills, patches, and liquids sealed in their original container will be accepted” mean? Is the original container just for liquids? If I show up with a plastic bag of all sorts of different pills, will they take that?
I’m not certain, but I believe there is a bin in front of the Concord police station, you should call them to find out. Some hospitals and pharmacies take them too. Rite Aid takes old medicine, but I don’t know if they take sharps. Be wary of insulin syringes, IV drug addicts use them because they have small needles and are easy to get, and be extra careful handling needles and syringes you find on the street. The HIV virus is very fragile and will survive only a few hours on a dry surface, but the hepatitis B and C viruses can survive for a week or longer. If you have handled them with your bare hands, it might be a good idea to get tested for hepatitis B and C. It can take up to 20 years before symptoms appear, and early detection is crucial.
@iKrissy – Many local pharmacies, police stations, and fire stations (and some doctor offices/clinics) will accept ‘Sharps’ for safe disposal, including used syringes and lances. BUT all those I’ve interacted with require that the ‘Sharps’ be dropped off in a certified Sharps container. It’s about the size of a small cooler; you drop the whole container off for disposal when it is full. I believe there is also a mail-in option for disposal.
If your items are loose and not in a certified Sharps container, not sure who will take them. Perhaps contact your local police department or pharmacy to see if they can help you safely dispose of your loose items.
PS – Thank you for safely picking these items up during your walks!
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts sharps. Great staff and speedy service.
The CVS on Treat Blvd has a drop-off box at their pharmacy.
About two years ago, I took expired Rx medications to Concord Police Station…..(much “to-do” made what with gloves, sealed bagging, etc.)
However, they would not even touch my still-sealed, expired Epipen box! They did not accept ANY kind of sharps; I had to go to the Clayton Police Station for that, where they made ME remove the box seal (I had to ask to use their scissors to do that) and hold the syringes for them to inspect before I put them into individual bags labeled “hazardous waste” and sealed them.
Bottom line: call first! Next time I will try to get the hospital to dispose of any such products.
It doesn’t inspire much faith, in their alleged directive to protect and serve, if they can’t even handle an inanimate box of eppi pens, to the point where they would actually offload that perceived danger to a random citizen.
Aren’t they supposed to have at least some basic level of training on securing random needles that they find?
What dangerous medicines are they referring to? It sounds like they’re referring to Opiates, when NOBODY prescribes those anymore.
I was in a horrific car accident (rollover), I e had 5 back surgeries, nerve damage and at age 60 am NOT able to walk due to pain.
Five years ago, the Dr’s all stopped prescribing Opiates, because of all the lovely people who stole, sold, abused and O.D.’d from these types of medicine. So now you have a country who no longer can find pain relief, and YES my pain pills worked, and I NEVER EVER ABUSED them.
Now, I can’t work anymore, I walk with a Walker and spend my days sitting at home…
We’re ALL so glad that the government is taking care of the drug dealers and drug addicts and just left us chronic pain sufferers hanging, now without work and like many many others are home collecting Social Security / disability.
My guess not too many people have “dangerous” addicting pills to turn in. The government has turned a whole lot of people in legitimate pain into drug seeking people hitting the streets buying illegal stuff. They’re desperate!!
e.bunners so sorry to hear about your pain and your right about the meds.
The use of language like “take back” always irritates me. Like gun “buy backs.”
I didn’t buy my guns or my meds from the local police or DEA.
If they want to say, “Hey, we’ll take your old meds if you like.” that’s fine.
I had kidney stones about 2 months ago. Dr gave me a script for hydromorphone . No problem.
I still have 1/2 my script. I will not be turning them in. I’ll save them for when my hip bursitis flares up.
With meds being stalled offshore or held up in China for political reasons, I’m second thinking giving away unused meds now. As Biden’s Mad Max policies unfold, that may prove wise.
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