Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

This Saturday, April 30, 2022, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will join countless other law enforcement agencies across the nation for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

In partnership with Walgreens, the Sheriff’s Office will be accepting unused, unneeded, and expired prescription drugs at the Walgreens on Harris Street in Eureka (2525 Harris St.) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The take back event is free and anonymous for our community. Prescription and over the counter tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of medication will be accepted during this event. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and cannabis will not be accepted.

“People often feel hopeless when it comes to the drug epidemic in our community and our nation. But there is something that you can do to make a real difference,” Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said. “Preventing prescription drug and opioid addiction starts in your home. Disposing of unneeded medications can help prevent drugs from being misused and cut off addiction at the source.”

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, more than 106,000 people died as the result of a drug overdose in the 12-month period ending November 2021, marking the most drug-related deaths ever recorded, with opioid-related deaths accounting for 75 percent of all overdose deaths.

Humboldt County residents are encouraged to properly dispose of unneeded medications at Saturday’s take back event, or at any of the permanent, year-round receptacles in our community. To find your closest, permanent medication disposal location, visit: https://humboldtgov.org/2151/Prescription-Drug-Safety