Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Tehachapi Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will allow the public the opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs for disposal to the Tehachapi Police Department at 220 W. C St.

Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes, sharps and illegal drugs will not be accepted. DEA will continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges at its drop-off locations, provided lithium batteries are removed. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

At its last Take Back Day in October, DEA collected a record-high amount of expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 10-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency, but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.

The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at collection sites, which will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.

Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way the Tehachapi Police Department and the DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 24 Take Back Day event, go to http://www.deatakeback.com or contact the Tehachapi Police Department at (661) 822-2222.