National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is meant to provide a secure, easy, and responsible way to dispose unused prescription drugs, but organizers say it is also a way to educate the public about the potential for abuse of leftover medications.
On Monday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra was joined by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Sacramento Police Chief Daniel Hahn during a news conference the encourage participation in the latest drug takeback event this Saturday, October 27th.
Mayor Steinberg said the abuse of opioids is exacerbating the homelessness situation in Sacramento. He claimed that is a big difference between the people who are living on the street these days compared to the years past.
Chief Hahn added that addiction to prescription drugs often leads to addiction to street drugs. Drug addiction, according to Chief Hahn, destroy lives and lead to crime that tear apart communities. "Just image you've had surgery on your knee, and you're prescribed prescription medication," said Hahn. "I would challenge you right now to look in your medicine cabinets and tell me how many pills are that prescription bottle." He suggested that it is easy for family or friends to take a small number of prescription pills without the prescribed patient knowing.
On Saturday the Sacramento Police Department will offer a prescription medication drop-off at the headquarters, 5770 Freeport Boulevard, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., no questions asked. If you can not get to the police headquarters on Saturday Chief noted that you can drop off unused medications every day at that location and inside the north police facility at 3550 Marysville Boulevard.