Got Drugs? Safely Dispose at MV Police Dept

Expired and/or unused prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.  Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision.  

The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from the family or their friends' medicine cabinet.  Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold.  Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply.  Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs.

The Mill Valley Police Department is pleased to partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the 8th National Prescription Take-back Day.  Bring your expired and unused prescription drugs to the Mill Valley Police Department on Saturday, April 26th from 10 am to 2 pm.  The location is 1 Hamilton Drive, across from Hauke Park.  For safe disposal, take the drugs out of their original containers (unless plastic or foil-wrapped) and place into plastic bags.

Previous take-back events have collected over 2 million pounds of medications and removed them from circulation.  The DEA's National Take-back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the public about the potential abuse of these medications.

For safe disposal, take the drugs out of their original containers (unless plastic or foil-wrapped) and put into plastic zip-lock bags to be placed into the collection container.

Items Accepted:

• Prescription medications
• All over-the-counter medications
• Vitamins and supplements
• Medicated ointments, lotions, creams, and oils

Items Not Accepted:

• Sharps/needles  (sharps disposal sites for Marin County)
• IV bags
• Bloody or infectious waste
• Personal care products
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Inhalers and aerosol cans
• Empty pill containers

Here is a quick video on youth and the family medicine cabinet and a short talk on drug addiction from the California Medical Board.

Bring your medications to the Mill Valley Police Department on Saturday, April 26th from 10 am to 2 pm.

The police station is at 1 Hamilton Drive (across from Hauke Park).  Please call 389.4100 with any questions.