Full Notification

On Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Santa Barbara Police Department will be partnering with the US Drug Enforcement Administration to hold another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

This is an opportunity for those who have accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the US are alarmingly high, 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, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medications—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. In the ten previous Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2015, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,700 tons—of medication.

The collection location in the City of Santa Barbara will be at the La Cumbre Plaza Mall, 121 S. Hope Avenue, between Starbucks and the center court fountain. Beat Coordinators Officer Adrian Gutierrez and Officer Bryan Kerr will be there and will have collection boxes setup to collect pills or medicated patches (no liquids, needles, or sharps). This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Everyone is invited to stop by, to chat with Officer Gutierrez and Officer Kerr, and to deposit unwanted medications for safe destruction.

Information regarding the disposal of liquid medications, needles, or sharps can be found here: http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Medications/Household.htm and http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/HomeHazWaste/Sharps/Household.htm.