Unused prescription drugs in homes throughout the community are the subject of a free collection - no questions asked - on Saturday, Oct. 29, outside the Manteca Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

Manteca Police Captain Charlie Goeken said his department’s effort is being underwritten by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) giving the public another opportunity to avoid pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired and unused bottles filled with drugs.

The Manteca Police collected some 100 pounds of drugs in April.

Nationally there have been two collections since last September where coast-to-coast citizenry has turned in approximately 250 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies.

Goeken added that the initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.

He pointed out that the 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 indicate that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends including many from home medicine cabinets. Additionally Americans are now being advised that their usual methods in disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.