GPD to host prescription drug take back

In conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Gilroy Police Department will be hosting an April 26 event offering residents a chance to safely dispose of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs.
Residents can bring pills or patches for disposal to the GPD lobby, 7301 Hanna St. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., according to Sgt. Pedro Espinoza. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, he said.
In October, Americans turned in more than 647,000 pounds of prescription drugs at more than 4,000 sites operated by the DEA and thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. Over the years, the DEA and its partners have taken back more than 3.4 million pounds of prescription pills.
“Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” Espinoza said. “Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”