Prescription drugs being collected

After collecting and destroying 5.5 million pounds — 2,762 tons — of unused prescription drugs in the past five years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is continuing its efforts to take back unused, unwanted and expired prescription medications.

The DEA on April 30 in partnership with local law enforcement is having a collection day. This service is free of charge, with no questions asked.

The public may find a nearby collection site by going online, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and entering their ZIP code into the search window. Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted. Liquids, needles or other sharps will not be accepted.

According to the DEA, in the previous 10 take-back events, approximately 302,427 pounds or 151 tons of unused medication were collected from Northern California and Central Valley residents.