Sarnia Police Service is participating in a province-wide public safety initiative to encourage Ontario residents to dispose of old and unused prescription medication in a secure and environmentally-friendly manner. Police in communities across Ontario recognize prescription drug abuse can lead to increases in a wide spectrum of violent acts and property crimes. We support this excellent initiative as another way to reduce this threat to public safety in a secure manner.
Sarnia Police Service will be hosting a collection site on Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 555 North Christina Street, which is Sarnia Police headquarters. The drop off time will be between the hours of 10 AM and 3 PM. Citizens wishing to dispose of outdated, unused and unwanted prescription drugs may do so anonymously at Sarnia Police Headquarters without having to get out of their vehicles. The Sarnia Police command post will be on site in the front parking lot with uniformed officers present to collect the drugs.
The Controlled Drug and Substances Act (CDSA) prohibits anyone from possessing oxycodone or any other prescribed medication without a prescription. It is a criminal offence to offer or sell a prescribed medication to another person. Purchasing another person’s prescribed drugs is also illegal. Prescription drug misuse is the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Common prescription drugs being misused are opioid pain relievers, (such as oxycodone), anti-depressants and stimulants. Recent studies indicate 24 % of teens reported misusing prescription medications at least once within the previous year. Most of the teens took the medication from their family homes.
Prescriptions Drug Drop-off Day is proudly supported by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the Government of Ontario and Public Safety Canada.