Anonymous disposal is available Saturday
OAKHURST – The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is participating in a national “Take Back Drugs” initiative in an effort to decrease prescription drug abuse by children and young adults on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., residents are invited to take all of their unneeded prescription and over-the-counter medications to the county’s main sheriff’s office, 14143 Road 28 in Madera, or to the Oakhurst station at 48267 Liberty Drive in Oakhurst. There is easy-access parking at both locations.“The goal is to give parents, and all residents, a place where they can properly dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications safely,” said Madera County Sheriff John Anderson in a news release.
As always, the Take Back Drugs program is completely anonymous. No questions or requests for identification will be made, Anderson said.
Medicines, whether prescription or OTC, should never be disposed of by flushing them down a toilet or any other drain that empties into a city’s wastewater system or into a septic system drain field, since the drugs will then contaminate nearby groundwater, streams and rivers, and may be ingested by fish and other animals.
Medication may be disposed of in its original container or by disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, Anderson said, people are encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
Intra-venous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted due to potential bio-hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens.
All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.
No hazardous materials or waste, firearms, or any other items other than pharmaceuticals will be accepted or disposed of at either of the sheriff’s collection sites.
