DEA Sponsors Second National Prescription Take Back Day: Turn In Unused, Expired Or Unwanted Medications On April 30, 2011
SAN DIEGO, CA - On the heels of our participation in Operation Trail Mix, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) would like to announce that the second National Prescription Take Back will be held on April 30, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DEA and its law enforcement and community partners will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. O n Saturday, April 30 th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DEA and its partners will hold their second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, with 34 sites in San Diego and Imperial Counties. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, DEA San Diego and its partners collected 4,887 pounds of prescription drugs from San Diego and Imperial Counties combined. Nationally, citizens turned in over 242,000 pounds-121 tons-of prescription drugs. The agency hopes to collect even more this spring by opening the event to long term care facilities.
“Getting these potentially harmful drugs off the streets of our community is an important step in decreasing prescription drug abuse among our youth”, says Acting Special Agent in Charge of DEA San Diego William R. Sherman. “Citizens of San Diego and Imperial Counties are encouraged to bring their unused, expired or unwanted medications in to a drop-off location near them.”
Partnering law enforcement agencies include San Diego Sheriff’s Department, San Diego PD, Coronado Police Department, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, San Diego State University PD, University of California San Diego PD, Escondido PD, La Mesa PD, National City PD, Carlsbad PD, Oceanside PD, El Cajon PD, Chula Vista PD, Sycuan Tribal Police, San Diego County Office of Probation and Federal Bureau of Investigation along with several community partners.
