“Reducing Supply, Saving Lives, Reducing Demand,” is to “multiply the number and convenience of Rx disposal sites.”

In 2009, VCBH’s Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), in collaboration with the VCSO, established a countywide drug disposal program. The program encourages residents to safely dispose of unused or expired medications in secure, confidential disposal bins at law enforcement facilities. Through proclamations in 2012 and 2017, the BOS has supported the drug disposal program. (Ref-13)

In fiscal year 2014-2015, 18% of 769 County adult residents surveyed by VCBH used drug disposal bins. (Ref-14)

In 2017, according to VCBH, the use of drug disposal bins by County adult residents remained static at 18%. (Ref-15)

In response to the escalating opioid epidemic, the Ventura County Rx-Abuse & Heroin Prevention Workgroup (Workgroup) was established in 2012. A goal of the Workgroup, which is composed of numerous agencies, is “to increase community awareness of the risks of opioid misuse and engage support for safe and secure disposal.” The Workgroup does not include Ventura County Animal Services. (Ref-16) 2 Drug and Sharps Disposal

Another of the Workgroup’s goals, put forward in a 2017 presentation entitled “Reducing Supply, Saving Lives, Reducing Demand,” is to “multiply the number and convenience of Rx disposal sites.” (Ref-16)

From 2014 to 2019 the number of drug disposal sites at law enforcement facilities in Ventura County has been reduced from ten to nine. (Ref-17) (Att-01)

According to the Workgroup’s 2017 presentation, “Since 2009 over 16 tons of Rx drugs have been collected and destroyed by the Ventura County Rx-Abuse and Heroin Workgroup partners in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.” (Ref-16)

VCSO has standard operating procedures for drop-off bin collection. The bins are designed to allow staff to empty and weigh the entire assortment of miscellaneous pharmaceuticals with minimal handling. Prescription drugs are not separated from OTC drugs, such as cold and flu remedies and vitamins. (Att-03)

The VCBH website provides a link to a list of some, but not all, law enforcement agencies that have drug disposal bins and refers the public to “call your local police department for safe, confidential drop-off bins.” (Ref-18)

Phone inquiries by the Grand Jury to local police and Sheriff’s departments resulted in contradictory information. (Att-01)

A Grand Jury visit to the Santa Paula Police Department revealed no drug disposal bin.

A Grand Jury visit to the Ojai Police Department revealed that its drug disposal bin had been over-filled by pharmacies and doctors offices and had therefore been removed from the lobby. Access to the bin required staff assistance.

A Grand Jury visit to the Oxnard Police Department revealed that proof of city residency is required to dispose of drugs.

A Grand Jury visit to the Simi Valley Police Department revealed that an appointment is necessary to drop off drugs. Information regarding sharps disposal was inconsistent.

A study conducted by Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine from January 2007 through December 2017 concluded that the increase in opioid prescriptions for pets during that period paralleled a rise in similar prescriptions for people. (Ref-19)

All nine drug disposal sites in Ventura County accept pet medications; however, there is no public information specific to veterinarians or pet owners on safe storage and disposal of prescriptions for pets.

Disposing of used medical sharps in the trash, recycling bin, or flushing them down the toilet is illegal in California, according to the State Health and Safety Code. These disposal methods pose serious health risks to Drug and Sharps Disposal 3 children, sanitation staff, water treatment facility operators and the public. (Ref-20)

An estimated one million Californians inject medications, and 936 million needles are used by self-injectors in California each year. A 2018 study by Environmental Research and Education Foundation and the Solid Waste Association of North America found that 95% of self-injectors improperly dispose of sharps. (Ref-10)

A Grand Jury visit to the six Sheriff’s substations revealed that all have drug drop-off bins, but none have bins for sharps disposal.

A Grand Jury visit to city police departments revealed that all except Ventura and Santa Paula have drug drop-off bins. Only the Port Hueneme Police Department has a bin for sharps disposal. (Att-01)

A number of counties in California have already developed ordinances requiring pharmaceutical companies to establish and pay for a local drug collection program based on the EPR model. (Ref-03, Ref-04, Ref-05, Ref- 06, Ref-07, Ref-08, Ref-09)

In a sampling of eight counties with drug disposal programs based on the EPR model, the Grand Jury found it took up to two years for the counties to write and implement their ordinances. (Att-02) Conclusions C-01. The Grand Jury concluded that among the County law enforcement facilities that have drug disposal bins, there is a lack of information and consistency in public guidance regarding disposal of all medications, particularly for pet owners. (FA-09, FA-10, FA-11, FA-12, FA-13, FA-14, FA-15, FA-16) (Att- 01) C-02. The Grand Jury concluded that the BOS has not yet addressed the issue regarding the disposal of sharps waste, a requirement of SB 212, when it becomes effective January 1, 2021. (FA-01, FA-17, FA-18, FA-19, FA-20) (Att-01) C-03. Based on recent surveys, the Grand Jury concluded that VCBH has made no progress in increasing public awareness and use of drug disposal bins. (FA-02, FA-03) C-04. The Grand Jury concluded that VCBH and the Rx-Abuse & Heroin Prevention Workgroup have failed to increase the number and convenience of drug disposal bins. (FA-04, FA-05, FA-06) C-05. The Grand Jury concluded that VCBH’s assertion that more than 16 tons of prescription drugs have been collected since 2009 is misleading. This is because VCSO’s procedures for drug collection do not allow for the separation of prescription drugs from over-the-counter drugs prior to weighing. (FA-07, FA-08) (Att-03) C-06. The Grand Jury concluded that drug disposal ordinances already in effect in many counties throughout the State provide for safe disposal of 4 Drug and Sharps Disposal unwanted, unused or expired medicines and sharps. Any of these ordinances could serve as a model for Ventura County. (FA-21, FA-22) (Att-02) C-07. The Grand Jury concluded that although not specifically mandated until January 2021 by SB 212, a manufacturer-funded collection and disposal program for unused drugs and sharps would significantly increase the effectiveness of the County's current drug disposal program. The program would also reduce the risks to public safety, health and the environment. (FA-01, FA-02, FA-03, FA-04, FA-06, FA-08, FA-09, FA-10, FA-11, FA-12,