Got expired or unused medication sitting in the cabinet? San Joaquin County residents can drop it off for free, no questions asked, this Saturday.
San Joaquin County Public Health Services and the San Joaquin County Opioid Safety Coalition are partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event lets residents anonymously dispose of old, unwanted or expired tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription medication.
The county will host five collection sites:
- Lodi Police Department, 215 W. Elm St., Lodi
- Youngs Payless Market, 18980 Highway 88, Lockeford
- Tracy Police Department, 1000 Civic Center Drive, Tracy
- Code 3 Wear, 304 Lincoln Center, Stockton
- Stockton Unified School Police Department, 640 N. San Joaquin St., Stockton
Collection sites cannot accept syringes, sharps or illicit drugs. Liquid medications, such as cough syrup, should stay sealed in their original container with the cap tightly closed to prevent leaks.
Nationally, Take Back Day has removed more than 20.4 million pounds of medication from circulation since the program began 16 years ago, according to the DEA, which notes that most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, often from an unlocked medicine cabinet.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Five county sites, Lodi, Lockeford, Tracy and two in Stockton (see list above)
Admission: Free and anonymous
Tickets/Info: DEATakeBack.com or SJCOpioidSafety.org