Prescription drug roundup today

In response to a surge in prescription drug abuse, Partnership Carson City and the Healthy Communities Coalition in Lyon County are urging residents to safely dispose of their unused and expired prescription drugs during a community-wide roundup today.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the three Save-Mart locations in Carson City and at Lyon County senior centers in Dayton, Silver Springs, Fernley and Yerington, officers will be on hand to receive the drugs for destruction.

"There are two important reasons for disposing of drugs in the proper manner - our children and our drinking water," said Kathy Bartosz, executive director of Partnership Carson City. "Leftover drugs in the cabinet or drawer can get into the wrong hands, with tragic results. And we don't want to flush them down the toilet, because they can contaminate our water supply."

A key reason for the drug roundups is an apparent rise in abuse of prescription drugs by young people and adults in Nevada. Used in the wrong way, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and addictive as illegal street drugs.

Removing unused prescriptions from households is one way of reducing the total amount of drugs in our communities. Left unattended in a medicine cabinet, the drugs can find their way into the hands of visitors or even family members who may abuse or sell them.

"Prescription drugs are powerful medicines for use exactly as your doctor directed," said Bartosz. "Keeping them around after they're no longer needed is an invitation to abuse, and trying to self-diagnose can be very dangerous."

Resident should simply bag up their unused drugs and bring them to one of the collection points.

Throughout the year, the Carson City or Lyon County sheriff's offices also collect expired or unused prescription drugs or illegal drugs.

Called the Anonymous Drug Program in Carson City, people can drop off the items Monday through Friday during business hours and no questions will be asked. And if you don't have transportation or can't make it to the sheriff's office, call 887-2007 and a officer will respond to pick up items for destruction.

• Carson City Sheriff's Office, 911 E. Musser St., 887-2007.

• Lyon County Sheriff's Office, 30 Nevin Way, Yerington, 463-6600.