Drug Take Back Day in South Lake Tahoe Saturday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids (TASK) will be at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) on Saturday, October 29 to collect unused medication as part of the National Drug Take Back Day. There will be a tent in front of the school's gym so the public can just drive by and dispose of the pills.

Several pounds of unused prescriptions are collected each year at this semi-annual event in South Lake Tahoe. Providing a special collection day along with permanent locations addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue.

Besides prescription and nonprescription pills (no liquids), the event in South Lake Tahoe will also collect vape pens if the battery has been removed.

Studies show that most abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. Dumping the unused pills down the drain causes the drugs to dissolve and end up in the environment. Throwing away the garbage is also harmful. Pharmaceuticals can pollute our water and unintentionally expose us to the chemicals in these medications.

For those that are unable to make Saturday's event, there is a permanent drug disposal bin at the El Dorado County Sheriff's station and Safeway in South Lake Tahoe, and the Douglas County Sheriff's station in Stateline.

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) holds a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day that reflects its commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes to prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.