Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has called on Californians to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 27, 2024. The initiative, organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, aims to facilitate the safe and responsible disposal of prescription drugs, including opioids, while raising awareness about the risks associated with prescription drug abuse.

In a statement, Attorney General Bonta emphasized the importance of the event, stating, “Californians can help stop the epidemic of drug overdoses during Prescription Drug Take Back Day. By safely disposing of unused medications, we can prevent drug misuse and accidental poisoning while safeguarding our water sources and ecosystems by avoiding improper disposal of medications. It’s a simple yet impactful way to protect our loved ones, and I strongly encourage all Californians to drop off unwanted medications at safe disposal sites in your community this Saturday.”

On April 27, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., various locations across California will serve as collection sites for unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs. This service is provided free of charge and ensures anonymity for participants. To locate the nearest collection site, individuals can visit takebackday.dea.gov for more information.

During the 25th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held in October, Californians collectively disposed of 27,988 pounds of prescription drugs at 216 collection sites statewide. Nationally, consumers returned nearly 600,000 pounds of prescription drugs during the same event. Since the inception of the program in 2010, California has collected a total of almost 1,372,361 pounds of prescription drugs.

Attorney General Bonta remains dedicated to safeguarding Californian communities and combating the opioid crisis, including the fentanyl epidemic. Through various settlements, the California Department of Justice has secured over $48 billion, with up to $4.25 billion allocated for California, to support treatment and prevention efforts. Attorney General Bonta's comprehensive strategy against the fentanyl epidemic involves enforcement actions, litigation, and effective public policy measures to prevent its spread.

As part of these efforts, the California Department of Justice has seized significant quantities of fentanyl pills and powder, totaling 11,629,902 fentanyl pills and 3,392 pounds of fentanyl powder. Additionally, 280 suspects have been arrested on fentanyl-related charges. Attorney General Bonta has also been actively engaged in efforts to combat the trafficking of illicit fentanyl, receiving briefings from federal and local law enforcement partners and inspecting the California-Mexico border to crackdown on the trafficking of illicit fentanyl into California communities.