OVERVIEW: Safe Conejo

Safe Conejo: Who We Are

The Safe Conejo collaboration was formed in October 2010 when a concerned group of community stakeholders met to discuss the increasing prevalence of prescription drug abuse in the Conejo Valley, in Ventura County. In 2011, three Conejo Valley Community Forums were held on “Prescription and Over-the-counter Drug Abuse & the Heroin Danger.”  With support from Ventura County Behavioral Health, the events were sponsored by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and the Thousand Oaks Police Department, with collaboration from the Conejo Unified School District, Los Robles Hospital Medical Center, and other concerned partners. We will continue to list our upcoming events on this page.

Safe Conejo is on Facebook! Go to Conejo Valley Drug Updates

Keep up with the latest news, events and community voices at  Conejo Valley Drug Updates

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Collects Record 276 Tons

Read the DEA Press Release

May 03 (Washington, D.C.) – The American people have again responded overwhelmingly to the most recent DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. On April 28th, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the four Take Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.

"We are pleased at the response of the American people once again, and we thank them for participating and contributing to the battle against prescription drug abuse,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, who added that 4,268 agencies participated with DEA nationwide in Saturday’s event. “While a uniform system for prescription drug disposal is being finalized, we will continue to sponsor these important take-back opportunities as a service to our communities. Our take-back events highlight the problems related to prescription drug abuse and give our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution. These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our state, federal, local, and tribal partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts on behalf of the American people.”

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Four days after the first Take-Back event in September 2010, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is in the process of drafting regulations to implement the Act.

Click here to find  Disposal Bin locations throughout Ventura County.

Conejo Valley Community Forums

A Conejo Valley Community Forum addressing prescription drug abuse and the heroin danger in our community.

Community Partners

A few of our Community Partners that collaborated on the Conejo Valley Community Forums.

What You Can Do 

  • GET THE FACTS on Rx & OTC drug abuse
  • COMMUNICATE THE RISKS of mixing and abusing drugs
  • DISPEL THE MYTH that Rx drugs are safe to abuse
  • KNOW THE SIGNS and symptoms of drug use
  • MONITOR AND SECURE all medications
  • PROPERLY DISPOSE of expired and unused medications
  • VISIT YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT for safe, confidential disposal

Tips for Parents

From Parents. The Anti-Drug: "There are some simple steps you can take to keep track of your child’s activities. Of course, your kids might not like you keeping tabs on where they are and what they’re doing. It won’t be a democracy, and it shouldn’t be, according to many parenting experts. In the end, it’s not pestering, it’s parenting."

Set Rules. Let your teen know that drug and alcohol use is unacceptable and that these rules are set to keep him or her safe. Set limits with clear consequences for breaking them...
Read more Tips for Parents.

How Do I Get Help? Some Valuable Resources

Forum Survey - Give Your Feedback

If you attended any of the Community Forums, please take a moment to fill out this survey.
See Survey.

In the News

Stay updated on latest news articles. To see more news.

Contact Us

To find out more about Safe Conejo, contact 805.494.8256 for more information. You may send inquires to feedback@venturacountylimits.org

Sign up for the Prevention Services E-Newsletter. Keep in touch to find out the latest events, news and community-wide efforts.

See the Prescription Drug Abuse: What You Can Do Handout.

See Drug Guide For Parents: Learn The Facts To Keep Your Teen Safe.

See Selected Prescription Drugs with Potential for Abuse - Drug Chart, NIDA.

Conejo Valley Drug Updates - Facebook





Prescription Drug Disposal Bin Locations
>Click here to see it.


Conejo Valley Community Forum
>Click here to see it.


Comments? Feedback@venturacountylimits.org • (805) 662-1860 • © 2012, All Rights Reserved.