WHAT: Alameda County DA's Office Participates in
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY
WHEN: Saturday, April 28, 2012
10am - 2pm
WHERE: Alameda County Family Justice Center
470 27th Street, Oakland, CA 94612
WHO: Alameda County District Attorney's Office in conjunction with United
States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
WHY: The public will have an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by
ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The public is encouraged to bring medications for disposal to the Alameda County Family Justice Center. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds - 188.5 tons - of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners. In its three previous take back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds - nearly 500 tons - of pills.
District Attorney Nancy E. O'Malley states "this initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse and addiction in Alameda County are alarmingly high, as are the numbers 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 method for disposing of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - both pose potential safety and health hazards."
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