NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2020
SUBJECT: Safe Drug Disposal Event For Oxnard Residents – December 5, 2020
LOCATION: 214 South “C” Street, Oxnard, CA 93030
CONTACTS: Ventura County Behavioral Health – David Tovar, Substance Use Services Division, (805)973-5376, David.Tovar@ventura.org | Oxnard Police Department – Paul Carganilla, Community Affairs Manager, (805)385-7631, paul.carganilla@oxnardpd.org
Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Behavioral Health Team Up to Save Lives inviting residents to “Drive-up, Drop-off, and Stay Safe”
Oxnard, Ca – Oxnard Police Department and Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) have partnered up to offer our community the ability to take back old or unused prescription drugs. An opportunity to drive up and drop off prescription medication on December 5th is free, anonymous, and open to all.
On December 5th in the parking lot of the City of Oxnard Service Center at 214 South “C” Street from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., we invite the community to drive through and drop off old, unused, or unneeded medication. Police Officers and Behavioral Health partners will be on-site to assist, provide information about substance use treatment, and Naloxone, the overdose reversal drug for anyone with a need for it.
With prescription drug use rates around the United States and Ventura County at alarmingly high levels, prescription painkillers, heroin, and synthetic drugs like fentanyl have driven a public health crisis. The December 5th take-back day is a unique opportunity for Ventura County to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft, misuse, and abuse. Child-resistant does not mean child-proof, and it is no guarantee of safety. Keep your home safe by driving up and dropping off medication.
“We are pleased to join with the Oxnard Police Department on safe drug disposal. They’ve been a steadfast partner in our effort to provide treatment options to the community and prevent the harms of substance use,” said Loretta L. Denering, DrPH, MS Chief for VCBH’s Substance Use Services Division. “We continue to work with first responders and community agencies to provide Naloxone to residents who are at the highest risk of experiencing an overdose.”
In Ventura County in 2016, 9% of 9th graders and 16% of 11th graders said they used Rx painkillers, tranquilizers, or sedatives to get “high,” And most teens who misuse or abuse prescription drugs get them through a friend or relative. Since 2009, more than 19 tons of Rx drugs have been collected and destroyed through collaborating partners and local law enforcement stations.
VCBH provides overdose prevention training and Naloxone. We know that empowering our community with important information and skills to prevent overdose can make a difference and save lives. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, call 1-844-385-9200 for a free and confidential assessment. Please visit www.VenturaCountyResponds.org to learn more.
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