Drop The Drugs

Sonora, CA — Prescription drug abuse remains a problem in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties.

Over the next couple of days residents will have a chance to dispose of unused medications, no questions asked. The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Yes Partnership and DEA will be collecting unused drugs from 10am-2pm, Friday and Saturday, at the Junction Shopping Center. Organizers say to “look for the signs,” as the station will be setup near the Sheriff’s Community Services Unit.

“At the last collection, they collected 464 pounds of drugs,” says Dr. Todd Stolp, Tuolumne County Health Officer. “What can happen is that a person doesn’t use the rest of their medication, or find that it has a side effect, and it just sits on the shelf where it can be picked up by someone and abused.”

Calaveras County residents can drop off unused medications at three locations Saturday, from 10am-2pm. The sites include Feeney Park in Murphys, the Calaveras County Office of Education in Angels Camp and the Toyon Middle School Parking lot in San Andreas. The Calaveras “Drop the Drugs” event is put on by the Sheriff’s Office, Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, and the Angels Camp Police Department.