Drug Take-Back Day

Groups in Tuolumne and Calaveras County are participating in this year’s National drug take-back days this Friday and Saturday.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, YES Partnership, and the DEA, as well as the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the Angels Camp Police Department will provide a confidential way for individuals to rid their homes of unused or expired medication. The medication will be destroyed in an environmentally friendly manner, no questions asked.

Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) is supportive of the program stating, “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies have shown that pharmaceuticals and other chemical substances may be present in some of our nation’s water bodies and wastewater treatment facilities.”

TUD Wastewater Superintendent David Boartright says, “Flushing [drugs] down the toilet is not recommended and can harm the environment.” He ads, “If customers could get in the habit of proper disposal of their prescription medication it ultimately could save the District thousands of dollars in the future when regulations become more stringent on the removal from both wastewater and drinking water.”

In Tuolumne, the take back location is at the Junction Shopping Center – Near the Sheriff’s Community Service Unit. Officers will be there both Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

Calaveras County’s “Drop the drugs” day is Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm. A marked Sheriff’s Department or Police Department vehicle and uniformed officers will be clearly visible at three locations: Feeny Park parking lot in Murphys, Calaveras County Office of Education in Angels Camp, and Toyon Middle School in Valley Springs.

According the event Press Release, prescription drug abuse is a major problem in the United States today:

• 70% of prescription drug abusers obtain drugs from a friend or
• relative
• Teens abuse prescription drugs more than any other drugs except
• marijuana or alcohol
• Teens mistakenly believe that prescription and over-the-counter
• medications are safer than illegal drugs
• Teenagers say it is easier for them to get prescription medications than it is for them to buy beer.