Sheriff's stations collect 6,813 pounds of old and unneeded medications

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office announced the annual results of its collection of unused and expired prescription medications for 2017.

The agency collected 6,813 pounds over the course of the year, the highest annual total since it began collecting prescription drugs in 2013. It has collected 29,143 pounds in total over the past five years.

Here are the rankings for the various stations:

  • Thousand Oaks: 2,673 pounds
  • Camarillo: 2,458.2 pounds
  • Moorpark: 738.8 pounds
  • Headquarters (Ventura): 490 pounds
  • Ojai: 367.4 pounds
  • Fillmore: 85.6 pounds

The agency collects unused and expired medication as a preventive measure against nonauthorized uses of prescription drugs.

All of the agency's stations have secure pharmaceutical drop-off boxes in their lobby that can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.