Valley Springs & Angels Camp, CA…The next Calaveras County “Drop the Drugs” event is coming up on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at two locations in the county. Community members can prevent prescription and over-the-counter drug theft and abuse by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription or illegal drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked; but collection sites are not equipped to receive sharps (needles.)

“Drop the Drugs” sites are parking lots at:
Calaveras County Office of Education, Angels Camp
Toyon Middle School, Valley Springs

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

The traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose potential safety, environmental, and health hazards. Returning unused drugs to law enforcement agencies for destruction is the most environmentally appropriate method of disposal.

“Drop the Drugs” events are sponsored by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, Angels Camp Police Department, Calaveras County Office of Education, Calaveras County Behavioral Health Service, and the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention. Since “Drop the Drugs” Days started in 2010, the Sheriff’s office has removed over 1,500 pounds of drugs from our community.

Community members who cannot attend the event can drop off drugs 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 “Drop the Drugs” day on April 30 and the safe disposal of unused medicines, the public may contact Deputy Donald Kelling at 209-754-6386. For more information about the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, contact Michael Magana, Calaveras County Public Health Department, at 209-754-6019.

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