Sacramento, California – A few forgotten bottles in a bathroom cabinet may not seem like a public-safety concern. Sacramento police are asking residents to take another look before unused or expired medications remain within easy reach at home.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Sacramento Police Department will open its headquarters at 5770 Freeport Boulevard for the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, giving residents a four-hour window to dispose of unwanted medications safely and anonymously.
The collection will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sacramento police said residents can bring unused or expired medications to the site with no questions asked, describing the event as a simple way to reduce the risk of drug misuse and keep potentially dangerous medications out of the wrong hands.
Sacramento’s collection is part of a much larger nationwide effort. The Drug Enforcement Administration said this will be the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, organized with more than 4,300 law enforcement partners and more than 4,400 collection sites across the United States.
The scale of previous collections shows how much unused medication can accumulate in American homes. During the April 25 Take Back Day, 642,410 pounds of unwanted and expired medication were collected at 4,417 locations. Since the program began in 2010, the DEA says more than 21 million pounds, over 10,500 tons, have been collected nationwide.
For Saturday’s event, the DEA says collection sites can accept tablets, capsules, patches and other prescription medications. Liquid medications may also be accepted when securely sealed in their original containers. Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be collected.
The goal goes beyond clearing space in a medicine cabinet. Federal officials say removing medications that are no longer needed can reduce the risk of misuse, diversion and accidental poisoning.
Sacramento residents who cannot make the Oct. 24 event can also use the DEA’s online locator to search for other collection and year-round disposal options.
More information about the program and participating locations is available at DEATakeBack.com.