The public is invited to join the nationwide effort to ‘Safely Take-Back and Drop-Off’  unused prescription drugs Saturday at local participating sheriff’s or police stations.

While Saturday, Oct. 29, is a special nationwide effort, remember that you can also drop off anonymously drop off your medications seven days a week, 24-hours a day in front of dozens of sheriff’s stations of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including Santa Clarita Valley station and those listed below:

• Altadena Station
• Carson Station
• Century Station
• Compton Station
• Crescenta Valley Station
• East Los Angeles Station
• Industry Station
• Lakewood Station
• Lancaster Station
• Lomita Station
• Malibu / Lost Hills Station
• Marina Del Rey Station
• Norwalk Station
• Palmdale Station
• Pico Rivera Station
• San Dimas Station
• Temple Station
• Walnut / Diamond Bar Station
• West Hollywood Station
• South Los Angeles Station (Replaced Lennox Station) 1310 W. Imperial Hwy, Los Angeles 90044

Since the LASD started its Safe Drug Drop-off program in 2009, the public has shown a strong willingness to help protect the environment and reduce the possibility of unused prescription drugs falling into the wrong hands. Syringes (sharps) are also collected at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s stations.

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Last year, the following has been collected by the LASD and disposed of in a safe manner:

• 8,055 pounds of prescription medications (nearly 4 tons)
• 288,010 syringes
• 3.75 pounds of illicit drugs

Two years later, this successful program continues to provide a unique opportunity for residents to safely and anonymously drop-off expired or unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, syringes (sharps), and any other controlled substances. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department participates in this program 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that residents have a safe way to dispose of these items. The practice of flushing medicines down the drain can have an adverse impact on aquatic wildlife. Wastewater treatment plants are not able to test or treat for pharmaceuticals. Therefore, the drugs end up in our rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater systems and oceans.

Saving unused or expired medications can lead to improper and illegal use if they fall into the wrong hands. Children and others may access these medications from medicine cabinets and either use them inappropriately, sell them or give to others for illegal and unintended uses.
To read about National Take-Back Day and to see additional sites where you can drop-off your unused prescription medication throughout the U.S., visit the DEA website at:

http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr101911.html

In addition to LASD stations with Safe Drug Drop-Off sites, members of the public can find a nearby collection site by visiting: www.dea.gov and clicking the “Got Drugs?” banner, which links to a database where you can enter their zip code.