Politics & Government
National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative
On April 30 the U.S. Department of Justice will be holding the second annual Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Bring your unused prescription drugs to the following East Bay locations and know that they will be disposed in a proper way.
- Kensington Police Department
217 Arlington Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94707 - Oakland Police Department
455 7th St.
Oakland, CA 94607 - Oakland Police Department, Eastmont Substation
2651 73rd Ave.
Oakland, CA 94601
From the U.S. Department of Justice:
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
Find out what's happening in El Cerritowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In an effort to address this problem, DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted the first ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 25, 2010. The purpose of this National Take Back Day was to provide a venue for persons who wanted to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. This effort was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from our nation’s medicine cabinets. There were approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation that participated in the event. All told, the American Public turned in more than 121 tons of pills on this first National Take Back Day.
Due to the overwhelming success of the first event, DEA has scheduled the second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the first event or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of them.
