Several pounds of prescriptions gathered during area Drug Take Back Day

Law enforcement agencies and volunteers around the country participated in Drug Take Back Day on April 29, taking tons of medications off of the streets.

Both Douglas County and the City of South Lake Tahoe took part. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office had their Citizen Patrol volunteers staff five locations both at the lake and in the valley. They didn't measure the drugs in pounds, but in box fulls.

Staff was able to turn in 18 boxes of medications, which was more than last October’s collection.

In South Lake Tahoe, SLT police officers and the South Tahoe Drug Free Coalition (DFC) gathered the excess drugs during Earth Day at Bijou Park. They took in five pounds of pills during day with many wishing they had brought their old bottles of pills with them to have destroyed. The DFC installed a drug disposal bin in the lobby of the police station in July of 2014 where people are encouraged to utilize during business hours. Since installation, 35 pounds of medications have been gathered.

The majority of prescription drug abusers said in a survey that they get their drugs through friends, family or going through a medicine cabinet. Cleaning out a medicine cabinet helps prevents overdoses, which numbered 78/day in the U.S. in 2014. Disposing of medications also reduces theft, accidents and misuse of medications.

8 out of 10 heroin users began with prescription medication abuse of Opioids.

“DSCO will continue to participate in these DEA events to raise awareness of the opioid epidemic that is occurring in this country, and offer a safe and anonymous way to get rid of their medications,” said Douglas County Sheriff Ron Pierini.

Sheriff Pierini thanked the Citizen Patrol for their participation. The next Take Back will be in October.