Supervisors support drug drop-off

Several drug abuse prevention and treatment providers showed support as San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to allow countywide placement of drop boxes to collect prescription drugs for safe disposal.

The ordinance, brought forward by Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price and Sheriff Bill Gore, aims to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs obtained from the home by offering safe places to surrender the medications—“no questions asked.”

“Thank you for your continued support in reducing the abuse of prescription drugs,” said Dana Stevens of Communities Against Substance Abuse, which collected more than 250 signatures in support of the county ordinance.

The need for the program became evident to Slater-Price and Gore after the Oxy Task Force of San Diego County hosted two highly-successful countywide prescription drug Take Back Days. Sheriff’s officials collected nearly 2,900 pounds of prescription drugs from the public.

“Those drugs could have easily fallen into the wrong hands and led to abuse, addiction or worse—death,” said Slater-Price. “One thing became incredibly clear: a permanent, safe solution to dispose of prescription drugs must be found for San Diego County.”

Sheriff’s officials will regularly collect the medications for safe destruction. The drop boxes are being put out for a public bid. Officials hope to have them installed by fall.

The cost of the boxes will be paid for by the Sheriff’s budget and Slater-Price’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program grants.

The 22 locations for the drop boxes include sheriff’s stations and offices in Ramona, Julian, Borrego Springs, Ranchita/Warner Springs, Poway, Santee, Pine Valley, San Marcos, Valley Center/Pauma, Imperial Beach and Vista. Boxes also will be at George Bailey Detention Facility, John F. Duffy Administration Center, Las Colinas Detention Facility, San Diego Central Jail and South Bay Detention Facility.