Environmental Prevention

Reach Out participates in the annual Drug Take Back events throughout the Inland Southern region with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This successful partnership spurred the initiative to provide permanent drug take back boxes throughout the inland region.

Medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisonings. Rates of prescription drug abuse is alarmingly high — over half of teens abusing medicines get them from a family member or friend, including the home medicine cabinet, and often without their knowledge.

When prescription drugs go unused, they often pose hazards to society. They can be stolen, illegally abused, accidentally taken by children, or improperly disposed of.  Pharmacies are not allowed to take back certain drugs, such as pain relievers and stimulants, because they are controlled substances.

Another common concern is people flushing old prescriptions down the toilet, which is the worst thing a person can do. The drugs could eventually end up back in the water supply. In 2008, a study estimated more than 250 million pounds of pharmaceuticals are flushed every year, contaminating water supplies and endangering the environment.

Since January of 2014, Reach Out and our coalitions including, Partners For Innovative Communities (PIC), Fontana Community Coalition, Morongo Basin Community Coalition, and Healthy Jurupa began working with law enforcement, fire departments, city governments, and healthcare clinics to set up drug take back boxes. This enables members of the community to properly dispose of expired or unwanted drugs.

Since the launch of this program, boxes have been provided to local police departments including Ontario, San Bernardino County Sheriff (Morongo Station), and Riverside County Sheriff (Jurupa Valley Station). Additional boxes have also been installed at the Ontario Fire Department, City of Jurupa Valley City Hall, and the Riverside Universal Health Clinic.

Reach Out continues to partner with other agencies and cities to supply these life and environment saving boxes.

If you are interested or want more information on our program, please contact Daniel Castillo at Daniel@we-reachout.org.