San Andreas, CA…The annual Calaveras County “Drop the Drugs” event is coming up on Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 10 am-2 pm. There will be two locations; The Calaveras County Office of Education, 185 South Main Street, Angels Camp, and the Toyon Middle School, on Highway 12 between San Andreas and Valley Springs.

At “Drop the Drugs” day, residents can dispose of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Unfortunately, the collection sites are not equipped to receive any liquids or sharps. Deputies will be at each location and will accept the material. Please ensure that all identifying information be marked out or removed from the medicine containers. The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.

Since the beginning of the program in 2011, Calaveras County “Drop the Drugs” events have removed over 1,610 pounds of potentially dangerous drugs and medications from the community. Past methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose safety, environmental, and health hazards. Returning unused drugs to law enforcement agencies for destruction is the safest and most environmentally responsible method of disposal. Community members who cannot attend the event may drop off drugs any day during business hours at permanent “Drug Drop Boxes” at the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in San Andreas or the Angels Camp Police Department.

For more information regarding the safe disposal of unused medicines, the public may contact Sgt. Greg Stark at 209-754-6500.