National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

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On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sonoma County law enforcement agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at law enforcement agencies in the cities of Cotati, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Town of Windsor. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid and liquid forms of prescription drugs from Sonoma County residents. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices will also be collected only after the batteries are removed from the devices.

For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction.

Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at close to 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed 9,285 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.

Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into disposal boxes at the event. Participants are encouraged to remove any identifying information from prescription labels. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Collection sites will NOT accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs.

For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit:  https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Beyond Take Back Day, there are opportunities to dispose of unneeded medications regularly and safely for free at pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and through mail-back programs. For year-round medication disposal options, visit: MedTakeBackCalifornia.org or call (844) 4-TAKE-BACK.

Mail-back services for sharps are available to residents upon request.

Visit: SharpsTakeBackCalifornia.org or call (844) 4-TAKE-BACK.

The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services (DHS) is committed to making sure residents have on-going, sufficient, easy-to-access safe medication disposal options. A county-wide Safe Medicine Disposal Program has been jointly operated by the Russian River Watershed Association, Sonoma Water, the County of Sonoma DHS, Zero Waste Sonoma, Sonoma County Regional Parks, all nine Sonoma County cities/towns, community agencies, police departments, pharmacies, hospitals, foundations, and conservation districts since 2003. DHS continues to make safe medication disposal a priority by participating in collaborative efforts to safely dispose of unwanted medications, prevent overdose, and protect the environment.

Multiple Locations:

Windsor Police Dept
9291 Old Redwood Hwy

Cotati Police Dept (behind Cotati City Hall)
216 E School St

Healdsburg Police Dept
238 Center St

Santa Rosa Police Dept
965 Sonoma Ave

Rohnert Park Dept of Public Safety
500 City Center Dr

Sebastopol Police Dept
6850 Laguna Park Way

Cloverdale Police Dept
112 Broad St