Outdated medicine target of county-wide collection

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Partnership of Community Resources are teaming up for a prescription drug roundup this month to help residents safely dispose of unused and outdated medicine.

"A majority of teens who abuse prescription medications secretly obtain them from medicine cabinets of friends or relatives," said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Jim Halsey. "We want to reduce the availability of access to these drugs by reducing or eliminating the quantity of old medications in peoples' homes."

Halsey said people can bring unwanted or unused prescriptions to several locations in Douglas County, and drop them off safely and confidentially with no questions asked. Identifying information on the bottles can be marked out.

A deputy, two members of the partnership and two sheriff's office volunteers will be at each location to collect the drugs for shipment to Washoe County where they will be destroyed, Halsey said.

"Many people are unsure of how to dispose of old prescription medications so they dump them down the sink or flush them down the toilet," Halsey said. "These substances then end up in the water table, where they contaminate the water supply and the environment."

Halsey said the roundup provides an opportunity for people to dispose of old medications - including pills, liquids, even unused syringes - to a convenient location to be collected and safely destroyed.

"The purpose of the roundup is to get unused and unwanted prescription medications out of medicine cabinets - where they can be stolen or abused - and safely dispose of them," he said.

He said literature will be available regarding abuse of prescription medications, interaction dangers, suggestions on how to keep track of prescribed medications and resources for additional help.

The roundup is sponsored by the sheriff's office, the partnership, Minden-Gardnerville Sanitation District, Smith's and Safeway supermarkets and Walmart Supercenter.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Senior Health Fair, Carson Valley Inn, Minden

Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Smith's Supermarket, 1341 Highway 395, Gardnerville

Walmart Supercenter, 3770 Topsy Lane, Minden

Topaz Ranch Estates Volunteer Fire Station, 1476 Albite Road, Wellington

Safeway Supermarket, 212 Elks Point Road, Round Hill

Sheriff's Office substation, 1281 Kimmerling Road, Gardnerville Ranchos