Prescription drug roundup set for Sept. 25

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Partnership of Community Resources are sponsoring a prescription medication roundup 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 25 at several locations in Douglas County.

The roundup is being held in conjunction with a national effort sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration which designated Sept. 25 as "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day."

Local agencies sponsored a similar event in January and collected 130 pounds of prescription medications, not including liquid medications or syringes, according to Sgt. Jim Halsey.

"The goal of the roundup is to remove old prescription medications from residents' medicine cabinets or other storage places, to eliminate or reduce the chance of illicit or mistaken use by people - usually children or grandchildren - who find them," Halsey said.

"An additional goal is to reduce the chance of groundwater contamination if persons flush the old medications down the toilet or sink to dispose of them," he said.

Collection points will be staffed by a uniformed deputy, two DCSO citizen patrol officers, and a member of the Partnership of Community Resources.

"We will accept any prescription medications or injection supplies that citizens bring in," Halsey said. "The items will be collected, logged, and booked for destruction.

"The event will be completely anonymous, meaning persons turning in the medications or other items do not have to provide any personal information."

Collection points are:

Walmart Supercenter, 3770 Topsy Lane, north Douglas County;

Topaz Ranch Estates Volunteer Fire Station, 1476 Albite Road, Wellington, south Douglas County;

Walgreens Pharmacy, 1342 N. Highway 395, Gardnerville;

Douglas County Sheriff's Office substation, 1281 Kimmerling Road, Gardnerville Ranchos;

Safeway supermarket, 212 Elks Point Road, Round Hill, Lake Tahoe.