Free drug and e-cigarette recycling events will be held at various locations in Placer County, California, on December 2.
Organized by local law enforcement in partnership with utilities, water quality and public health entities, as well as community organizations and local schools, the event was held at multiple drop-off locations throughout the county between 10 and 14 p.m. on Dec. 2.
Event hosts will accept returned prescription and over-the-counter drugs, controlled substances, veterinary drugs and vaping devices. In addition to protecting the environment, these activities are aimed at ensuring that children do not have access to these products.
California law prohibits the sale of tobacco to anyone under the age of 21
In 2016, California passed a regulation raising the age limit for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The study, conducted by the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Research Institute for Research and Evaluation, called "New Study Examines the Impact of California's Tobacco minimum age 21 law," examined the impact of the measure.
Pooled data show that the T21 law has had a positive public health impact on 7th, 9th and 11th graders from across California. The results were summarized in News-Medical as follows:
"Reduced lifetime smokeless tobacco and e-cigarette use across the student population, as well as smokeless tobacco use in the past month
The prevalence of e-cigarette use has increased in the past month.
Lifetime and past 30 day use of all tobacco and nicotine products decreased among Latino youth.
Different but positive public health impacts on other racial and ethnic groups."