Calaveras County,CA…The next Calaveras County “Drop the Drugs” event is coming up on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 9am-noon at two locations in the county.

“Drop the Drugs” sites are the parking lots at:
Calaveras County Office of Education, Angels Camp (next to Calaveras Lumber)
Toyon Middle School, between San Andreas and Valley Springs

During “Drop the Drugs” days, residents can get rid of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription or illegal drugs, including controlled substances. Uniformed officers will accept the material, and request that all identifying information be marked out or removed. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked, but collection sites are not equipped to receive liquids or sharps (needles.)

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 responsible method of disposal.

The 2016 collection events removed over 670 pounds of potentially dangerous drugs and medications from the community.

“Drop the Drugs” days are sponsored by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, Calaveras County Office of Education, Calaveras County Behavioral Health Services, and the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention.

Community members who cannot attend the event can 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 “Drop the Drugs” days and the safe disposal of unused medicines, the public may contact Deputy Donald Kelling at 209-754-2891. For more information about the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention, contact Michael Magana, Calaveras County Public Health Department, at 209-754-6019.