The Petaluma Police Department collected hundreds of pounds of medication in only a matter of hours this past weekend after hosting a local prescription drug take back drop-off location.
Announced on Saturday, police said they participated in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in late October to encourage residents to get rid of any unnecessary medications in their house.
The national take-back day began over 20 years ago as an initiative to prevent prescription abuse and opioid addiction. Since then, participants have collected over 16 million pounds of drugs nation-wide.
Petaluma joined 152 other law enforcement agencies in California who participated in the event. In the Bay Area alone, local agencies collected 20,452 pounds of medication during the day.
Officers have also linked with the Ellis Creek Water Treatment Plant and the Safe Medicine Disposal Program to set up a daily prescription medication disposal drop-off location in the police department’s lobby at 969 Petaluma Blvd. North.
More information on how to drop off medications can be found online.