MADERA & MARIPOSA COUNTIES – Madera County Sheriff John Anderson and Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies are both offering the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs in a safe manner.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
MADERA COUNTY –
Sheriff Anderson is sending this notice well in advance of the event to make sure the public is given ample time to plan accordingly. This service is offered to all countywide residents including, schools and Assisted Living Centers currently operating in Madera County.
DATE: October 26, 2013
TIME: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
LOCATION 1: Madera County Sheriff’s Main Office, 14143 Road 28, Madera, CA
LOCATION 2: Madera Sheriff’s Oakhurst Office, 48267 Liberty Dr., Oakhurst, CA
Both drop-off locations offer easy access and available parking to the public.
The goal of the program is to allow citizens of Madera County to deliver all unused, unwanted, or expired medications to law enforcement officials who can in turn dispose of these controlled substances in a safe, secure, and non-hazardous manner.
Collection Day Protocols
• Controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances may be collected. The general public is often unaware of the distinction in medication status.
• This program protects the anonymity of all citizens who wish to dispose their medications. No questions or requests for identification will be made to anyone dropping off unwanted, unused or expired medicines.
• Participants may dispose of medications in its original container or by removing the medication from original containers and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual is encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
• 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.
• Intra-venous solutions, injectable, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood borne pathogens.
• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers. If an individual attempts to surrender an illicit controlled substance, law enforcement personnel will handle such material as abandoned property in accordance with drug policies.
• All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process. Law enforcement personnel will not handle the medications at any time.
• No hazardous materials or waste, firearms, or any other items other than pharmaceuticals will be accepted or disposed of at the collection sites.
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) invites the public to bring their medications for disposal:
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 26
TIME: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
LOCATION 1: The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office located at 4963 10th Street.
LOCATION 2: Sheriff Sub-Station One located at 10549 Fiske Road in Greeley Hill
LOCATION 3: Sheriff Sub-Station Two located at 9729 Merced Falls Road in the Lake Don Pedro Sub-Division.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
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 U.S. 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 medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
