Who is Watching Your Medicine Cabinet?

Fontana, CA – The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place again on April 28, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday April 28, the Fontana Police Department will collect unwanted prescription drugs. Residents may simply drop off prescription and over-the-counter medication, no questions asked. Labels and other identifying information may be removed from medication containers prior to drop-off. National Prescription Drug Take Back is a program where anyone can drop off unwanted medications without questions asked.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative began in 2010 by the DEA to address a vital public safety and public health issue. The Fontana Police Department launched their own 24-7 pharmaceutical collection site in collaboration with Reach Out in 2014. This gave residents a convenient place to safely dispose of unneeded prescriptions and over-the-counter medications all year long. During the last Take Back Day, nearly 70,260 pounds of unwanted medication were collected in California, which helps prevent prescription drug abuse, unintended poisoning, and keeps harmful drugs out of the water system.

Research shows adolescents most often illegally obtain prescription drugs for abuse by stealing it from someone’s home, often from a medicine cabinet, or by getting it from someone selling the pills. Clearing out unwanted medicines is one way to prevent abuse.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health In 2016, more than 152,000 American adolescents had a pain reliever use disorder. 

Pain reliever use disorder occurs when someone experiences clinically significant impairment caused by the recurrent use of pain relievers. Other effects include health problems, physical withdrawal, persistent or increasing use, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home.

Since 2014, Reach Out and Partners for Innovative Communities (PIC) have been working with local police departments in the Inland Empire to set up drug take back boxes at local police stations. Currently there is a secure pharmaceutical collection box installed at the Fontana Police Department. Since 2014 the Fontana Police Department location has collected over 491 pounds of prescription drugs.

Please visit our secure pharmaceutical collection box, located at the Fontana Police Department at 17005 Upland Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335. Residents may safely dispose of unwanted prescription or over-the-counter medication at any time of day. The box is emptied daily and the medication destroyed in a manner prescribed by law. Sharps (needles) and liquids are not collected at this location. For a complete list of locations, please visit: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/.

During the last Take Back Day, nearly 70,260 pounds of unwanted medication were collected in California, which helps prevent prescription drug abuse, unintended poisoning, and keeps harmful drugs out of the water system.