The Santa Clarita Valley isn’t very large, and most of us know what’s going on, more or less. One thing that some members of our community may be not be aware of, though, is the SCV Sheriff Station take-back program. Basically, there are 2 boxes outside the Santa Clarita Sheriff Station in which people can drop off used needles, biohazard materials, and drugs (both prescription and illegal). The take-back program is designed to allow residents a safe place to drop off potentially dangerous and/or illegal items without fear of being arrested. The deputies would rather have these items off the street than have you in jail for possessing them.
According to a number of studies, many dependencies and accidental overdoses begin not with drugs bought on the street, but with those obtained from friends and relatives. If you’ve ever been prescribed a painkiller after a dental or medical procedure and had some left over when the pain subsided, then you know how easy it can be to keep them. After all, waste not, want not, right?
Unfortunately, when people save their prescription medications that they no longer need, the remaining pills often end up in the hands of their kids. Depending on the child’s age and size, what’s considered a normal dose for an adult can be extremely dangerous to a young person. Additionally, taking prescription medication that they find in the home could lead them to search for other sources once they’ve exhausted the supply in their home.
That’s why programs like this are so important, and why the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a motion for the County Department of Health to further review take-back programs. Currently, some law enforcement agencies in the county have take-back programs and some do not. Officials believe that instituting a county-wide take-back program will go even further to reduce the dangerous materials on the streets.