The Chino Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent medication abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted medication. OnSaturday, April 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the public is invited to bring medications for disposal to the Chino Police Department, located at 5450 Walnut Avenue. (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
In addition, the Chino Police Department is now offering year-round medication disposal through the newly installed drop-box, which is located in the lobby of the Police Department. Residents can now safely dispose of their unwanted medication as needed; further reducing access and possible misuse.
Last October, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in the seven previous Take Back events, the DEA and partners have taken in over 3.4 million pounds—more than 1,700 tons—of pills.
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.
.For additional information or inquiries call (909) 334-3000.
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