Alameda County Launches Prescription Drug Disposal Program
SAN LEANDRO (KCBS) - Old medication and unused prescription drugs can be left at the sheriff's Eden Township Substation, a program authorities hope will prevent dangerous chemicals from entering the water supply.
The other objective of the secure metal drop box in the lobby is to keep potentially dangerous medication out of the hands of children.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
"We're very eager to have other jurisdictions emulate what the sheriff's department is doing here," said Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley.
Miley said the supervisors were studying how to expand this pilot program to all 14 cities.
Capacity is the most significant factor in bringing the drop box program to other sheriff's department offices, said Captain Dale Amaral. Right now only residents of unincorporated Alameda County are eligible to use the Eden Substation box because of the program's limited resources.
Interestingly there is no state or federally administered drug disposal program, although San Francisco would like to require drug manufacturers to pick up the tab for collecting and disposing of unwanted drugs.
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