GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – Gridley Police Department, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is participating in the 2021 National Take Back Initiative! And what is that?

The National Take Back Initiative is a program that offers safe outlets and ways to dispose of prescription medications in an eco-friendly manner. The DEA says, “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”

Medications collected at various Take-Back Day locations are weighed, labeled, and delivered to the area DEA offices, in our case, Sacramento, to be destroyed.

GPD Officer Ruth Hennessey will be leading the Gridley collection efforts at the 2021 National Prescription Take Back Day, which will be held Saturday, April 24^th.  GPD asks that you be mindful of the following instructions: There is no need to separate the pills from their storage containers; Liquids are accepted – please seal tightly and bag if possible; NO SHARPS under any circumstances.

If you have medications that you no longer take, are expired, or are just in need of disposal, please consider disposing of them at a secure location, such as the Take Back event or either of the two secure drop boxes in Gridley. They are available 24/7 and are located at Orchard Hospital and out front between Gridley City Hall and Gridley Police Department. 

Dispose of your drugs at Gridley’s National Take Back Day Saturday, April 24th from 12:00-2:00 pm at the Gridley Animal Control Shelter parking lot located at 895 Sycamore Street, Gridley.