Public Safety

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Set for Saturday

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Prescription drug deaths remained the most common cause of accidental deaths in San Diego County in 2012. You can help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding your home of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Do you have any unused, expired or unwanted medications? If yes, turn them in for safe disposal Saturday at one of 40 sites, including 14 County locations.

The County is a partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for its Ninth National Prescription Drug Take Back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 27. 

“Prescription drug deaths are preventable. Removing temptation is a very important step. Coupled with treatment options and education we can stop prescription drug abuse,” said County Supervisor Dave Roberts, who is a member of the San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force. 

Turning in drugs is anonymous and no questions will be asked.

County of San Diego locations include:

  • Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Station, 845 Imperial Beach Blvd., Imperial Beach
  • Fallbrook Sheriff’s Station, 388 E. Alvarado St., Fallbrook
  • Poway Sheriff’s Station, 13100 Bowron Road, Poway
  • Walgreens Parking Lot, 310 Sycamore Ave., Vista (Sheriff’s)
  • Kaiser Permanente San Marcos, 400 Craven Road, San Marcos (Sheriff’s)
  • San Diego County Juvenile Hall, 2801 Meadow Lark Dr., San Diego
  • Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego (San Diego County District Attorney’s Office)
  • Alpine Sheriff’s Station, 2751 Alpine Blvd., Alpine
  • Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Station, 3240 Main St, Lemon Grove
  • Walgreen’s Parking Lot, 9728 Winter Garden Blvd., Lakeside (Sheriff’s)
  • Walgreen’s Parking Lot, 10512 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee (Sheriff’s)
  • Albertson’s Parking Lot, 1459 Main St., Ramona (Sheriff’s)
  • Scripps Encinitas Hospital, 354 Santa Fe Dr., Encinitas (Sheriff’s)
  • Julian High School Parking Lot, 1850 Highway 78, Julian (Sheriff’s)

Complete list of locations (PDF)

San Diegans can learn more about prescription drug abuse and resources to help combat the problem at the San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force website.

     RELATED: Death Trends Stay Consistent

Last October, DEA San Diego and its partners collected 9,185 pounds of prescription drugs from San Diego and Imperial Counties combined.  Nationally, citizens turned in over 780,158 pounds of prescription drugs at 6,072 locations. 

“The reduction of the availability of prescription drugs continues to be a priority for the law enforcement in San Diego County”, says William R. Sherman, Special Agent in Charge of DEA San Diego.  “The success we have had in our prior Take Back events demonstrates that keeping these potentially deadly drugs out of the hands of our youth is also a priority for the citizens of San Diego and Imperial Counties.” 

Numerous agencies and community groups are participating in the local effort.  For more information about National Prescription Take Back Day, please visit the DEA website.

 

Yvette Urrea Moe is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact