Drug Takeback Day on tap at police department

California Police
California Police

The California Police Department will be participating in a national drug takeback day designed to collect prescription drugs that are no longer needed.

The collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration and state and local law enforcement agencies will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 27.

Two officers with the California Police Department will be stationed near a drug takeback bin outside the Police Department at City Hall.

Residents are encouraged to bring unused medications for destruction.

Last year's drug takeback was successful, Police Clerk Kathy Roll said. "We collected about 180 pounds of prescription drugs this way," she said.

The DEA National Takeback program states unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue and can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. Prescription drugs that have gone unused and thrown away in a trash bin can easily be retrieved and abused, or even illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed in the toilet can contaminate the water supply, the DEA program said.