LAKEPORT, Calif. — Due to the forecast for rain, the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted by the Lakeport Police Department on Saturday, Oct. 23, will take place indoors.

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Lakeport Police Department, 2025 S Main St.

This will not be a drive-through event, as previously announced.

Please park in either the front or side parking lots and proceed to the lobby. Masking and social distancing requirements relative to vaccination status remain in effect.

Lakeport Police Department to participate in Prescription Drug Take Back Day Oct. 23

Items they will accept are all over-the-counter or prescription medication in pill, tablet, liquid, cream or capsule form including schedule II-V controlled and non-controlled substances.

Pills need to be emptied out of their containers and placed in a Ziploc-style plastic bag. They do not take pills in paper, as they need to easily see the contents to make sure there is nothing in the bag they can't take.

They also will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers only after the batteries are removed from the devices. The agency stressed it will not be responsible for removing the batteries from the devices.

Items they will not accept are illegal drugs, needles, inhalers or aerosol cans.

Since the Lakeport Police Department started participating in the prescription Take Back Program in January of 2019, it has collected 706 pounds of prescription drugs, many of which were dangerous narcotics including opioids.

“This protects our community by keeping these drugs from being diverted to illegal use and keeps it out of our environment and water,” the department said.