Rocklin to host Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 25

Two Rocklin locations will serve as collection sites for the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, offering residents a safe way to dispose of unused medications that contribute to a drug crisis claiming more than 100,000 American lives annually. The Rocklin Police Department at 4080 Rocklin Road and Rocklin Fire Station 25 at 2001 Wildcat Boulevard will accept prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of a nationwide initiative coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Other Placer County locations include Roseville High School at 1 Tiger Way and Sun City-Roseville at 7050 Del Web Boulevard in Roseville; Auburn City Hall at 1225 Lincoln Way and the Justice Center at 2929 Richardson Drive in Auburn; Del Oro High School at 3301 Taylor Road in Loomis; and Lincoln Police Department at 770 7th Street. More than 105,000 people in the United States died from a drug-involved overdose in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, 217 people died each day from an opioid overdose in 2023. The biannual Take Back Day events have collected massive quantities of potentially dangerous medications. The October 2024 Take Back Day brought in 629,953 pounds of medication, and since the program's inception in 2010, DEA has collected more than 19.2 million pounds of medication. Recent data shows progress in fighting the overdose epidemic, with a nearly 24-percent decline in overdose deaths from October 2023 to September 2024 — the fewest deaths in any 12-month period since June 2020. The Take Back Day accepts tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids such as cough syrups must remain in their original containers. The service is free and anonymous. For those unable to attend, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options. Residents can search for permanent collection sites at DEATakeBack.com.