Got Expired Pills? Drug Take-Back Day Saturday In Rohnert Park, Cotati

ROHNERT PARK AND COTATI, CA — The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and Cotati Police Department are joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to give the public an opportunity Saturday to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired or unused prescription drugs.

From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, residents can bring their unused or unwanted pills and other prescription drugs for disposal to Rohnert Park DPS, 500 City Center Drive in Rohnert Park; or Cotati PD, 216 E. School St. in Cotati.

The two agencies are among more than 4,000 law enforcement partners across the country taking part in the DEA's 24th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain tightly sealed in their original container. The event will also continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who use a prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained that medication from a family member or friend.

“Every day, the men and women of the DEA work to protect Americans from deadly drugs and drug poisonings,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one of the ways we can help prevent addiction and deaths from opioids.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, 107,735 American lives were lost to drug poisoning between August 2021 and August 2022.

Beyond DEA’s Take Back Day, there are opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at close to 15,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses working to help clean out medicine cabinets throughout the year. In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.