Teenagers and young adults are abusing medications, some are taken directly from their parents’, grandparents’ or friends’ medicine cabinets. One in five teens has abused a prescription pain medication.
For everyone’s safety, monitor your medicine cabinet. Rid your medicine cabinet of unused, unnecessary or expired prescription medications immediately. You can do so by participating in the local prescription drug “take back” programs available nationwide.
In response to growing demand for a safe, convenient way to dispose of household medications, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department has teamed up with County Public Works to install drop boxes at each of the Sheriff’s nine substations throughout the county.
Our wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove any of the chemicals found in medications, so these materials remain untreated in our water system. Medications thrown in the trash are also in danger of being picked up by individuals or ingested by pets. In our landfill, medications can enter the environment.
The following can be deposited in the drop boxes:
- Over the counter medications
- Prescription medications
- Medication samples
- Medications for household pets
- Medicated lotions and ointments
It is requested that you keep medications in their original containers and remove or scratch out all personal information, including your name, address and phone number.
Our local drop boxes are located at:
Solvang Sheriff’s Station-1745 Mission Drive (805) 686-5000
Buellton Sheriff’s Station-140 West Highway 246 (805) 686-8150