Get Out The Drugs Valley/Peninsula -- And Dispose Of Them

REDWOOD CITY, CA -- This may be the one day out of the year when law enforcement asks you to bring out the drugs. With that, Redwood City is one San Mateo County city participating in the National Prescription Drug Takeback program in which a user may turn in medications so they can be safely discarded.

Whether you're a current or former medication user, it's not advised to keep prescriptions around the house or to even simply flush them down the toilet knowing they can end up in the wastewater supply.

Instead, you can take your drugs to the Redwood City Police Department Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The station is located at 2223 Broadway.

According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

"Prescription drugs that languish in the home are susceptible to diversion and misuse. We urge people to take advantage of this free and anonymous program to property dispose of medication at one of the many sites in our area," Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent In Charge Chris Nielsen said.

The daylong campaign net 15 tons of medication at more than 150 sites operated by more than 100 law enforcement partners last year in Northern California and the Central Valley. This year, more than 160 collection sites will be manned by the same number agencies to accept the medications, the U.S. Attorneys Office reported. The public may access one nearby through www.DEATakeBack.com.

Beyond the Redwood City police location, others in the South Bay include:

SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CALABAZAS BRANCH LIBRARY
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SANTA CLARA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BASCOM COMMUNITY CENTER
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MILPITAS POLICE DEPARTMENT
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
MAYFAIR COMMUNITY CENTER
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WILLOW GLEN COMMUNITY CENTER
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CAMDEN COMMUNITY CENTER
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SANTA CLARA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT

SEVEN TREES COMMUNITY CENTER

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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ALMADEN COMMUNITY CENTER
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SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
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MORGAN HILL POLICE DEPARTMENT
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