ANTELOPE VALLEY – Residents have a chance to safely get rid of old or unused medications tomorrow.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Lancaster and Palmdale Stations will be taking part in the 4th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2012.
If you or someone you know is addicted to prescription drugs, there are several top rehabs located in California. However, if you have simply accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, this is your opportunity to safely dispose of those medications and prevent them from falling into the hands of someone who may abuse them.
The National Take Back Initiative is sponsored by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.
“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”
Residents looking to drop off their old or unused medications locally can head to the LASD Lancaster Station at 501 West Lancaster Blvd or the Palmdale Station at 750 E. Avenue Q.
“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.
(Information via press release from the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency.)