This initiative addresses a vital public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Prescription drug abuse rates in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to those drugs. More Americans abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined.
In September 2010, during the last multi-agency effort, Americans turned in 242,000 pounds (121 tons) of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners.
Additionally, in Los Angeles County over the past year, the following has been collected by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and disposed of in a safe manner:
15, 041.81 pounds of prescription medications (nearly 8 tons)
3,478 pounds of used (376,237) syringes (nearly 3-1/2 tons)
5.33 pounds of illicit drugs
The public is urged to safely drop-off your unused prescription drugs on Saturday, April 30, in this joint nationwide effort. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s “Safe Drug Drop-Off” boxes are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, in front of the following LASD patrol stations:
1. Carson Station 310 830-1123
21356 South Avalon Boulevard, Carson 90745
2. Century Station 323 568-4800
11703 South Alameda Street, Lynwood 90262
3. Compton Station 310 605-6500
301 Willowbrook Avenue, Compton 90220
4. Crescenta Valley 818 248-3464
4554 North Briggs Avenue, La Crescenta 91214
5. East Los Angeles Station 323 264-4151
5019 Third Street, Los Angeles 90022
6. Industry Station 626 330-3322
150 North Hudson Avenue, City of Industry 91744
7. Lancaster Station 661 948-8466
501 Lancaster Boulevard, Lancaster 93534
8. Lakewood Station 562 623-3055
5130 North Clark Avenue, Lakewood 90712
9. Lomita Station 310 539-1661
26123 South Narbonne Avenue, Lomita 90717
10. Malibu/Lost Hills Station 818 878-1808
27050 Aguora Road, Aguora 91301
11. Marina Del Rey Station 310 482-6000
13851 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey 90292
12. Norwalk Station 562 863-8711
12335 Civic Center Drive, Norwalk 90650
13. Palmdale Station 661 272 2400
750 East Avenue Q, Palmdale 93550
14. Pico Rivera Station 562 949-2421
6631 South Passons Boulevard, Pico Rivera 90660
15. San Dimas Station 909 450-2700
270 South Walnut Avenue, San Dimas 91773
16. Santa Clarita Valley Station 661 255-1121
23740 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia 91355
17. South Los Angeles Station 323 820-6700
1310 West Imperial Highway, Los Angeles 90044
18. Temple Station 626 285-7171
8838 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City 91780
19. Walnut Station 909 595-2264
21695 Valley Boulevard, Walnut 91789
20. West Hollywood Station 310 482-6000
780 North San Vincente, West Hollywood 90069
Four days after last fall’s nationwide event, 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 to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. This act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA has begun drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months. Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events.
“Our Safe Drug Drop-Off program provides the residents of Los Angeles County with a safe and convenient way to dispose of their unused prescription medication,” said Sheriff Lee Baca.
We encourage everyone to look in their homes for any old, unused prescription medication and bring them to one of the listed collection sites for disposal 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have any questions, contact the collection site nearest you.
In addition to the collection sites listed above, additional locations throughout Southern California can be found by visiting www.dea.gov and clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon. For additional information pertaining to DEA and prescription drug abuse, visit www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com
To read more information about the LASD Safe Drug Drop Off program, visit the following link on the LASD website: http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_152501.pdf