The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal on Saturday, September 29th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the below listed collection sites.

These Take Back Days give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high—more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, halogens, and heroin combined.

Americans have turned in nearly 1.6 million pounds – almost 774 tons – of prescription drugs at almost 5,700 take back sites that were made available in all 50 states and U.S. Territories during the four prior Take Back Days. “The success of this program is clearly an indication of how important this partnership with the DEA is to the citizens of San Bernardino County. 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”, said Sheriff Rod Hoops.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will have twelve stations participating with the collection of these unused prescription medications. They will be open on Saturday, September 29th, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and no appointment is necessary. The participating sites are listed below:

Apple Valley Police Department 760.240.7400
14931 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley

Barstow Sheriff’s Station 760.256.4870
225 East Mt. View, Barstow

Big Bear Sheriff’s Station 909.866.0100
477 Summit Blvd., Big Bear Lake

Central Station 909.387.3545
655 East 3rd Street, San Bernardino

Hesperia Police Department 760.947.1500
15840 Smoke Tree Street, Hesperia

Highland Police Department 909.425.9793
26985 East Baseline, Highland

Lucerne Valley Sheriff’s Station 760.248.6686
32818 Verdugo, Lucerne Valley

Morongo Basin Station 760.366.4175
63665 Twenty Nine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree

Rancho Cucamonga Police Department 909.477.2800
10510 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga

Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station 760.552.6800
11613 Bartlett Avenue, Adelanto

Victorville Police Department 760.241.2911
14200 Amargosa Road, Victorville

Yucaipa Police Department 909.790.3105
34282 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa

We encourage every citizen to look in their homes for any old, unused prescription medication and bring them to one of the listed collection sites for disposal. If you have any questions, contact the Sheriff’s Public Affairs Division at
909. 387.3700 or any public inquiries can be made to 1-800-882-9539.

In addition to the collection sites listed above, additional locations throughout Southern California can be found by visiting www.dea.gov and clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon.

For additional information pertaining to DEA and prescription drug abuse, visit www.dea.gov, www.justthinktwice.gov, or www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com.