Guest Author:
Joyia Emard
Public Information Officer
California State Board of Pharmacy
Get unused and unwanted drugs out of your homes where they may end up in the wrong hands and be abused.
The family medicine cabinet is where many teens get prescription medications that they use to get high. Prescription drug abuse is a national epidemic and more people are dying from it than from car accidents.
Saturday, April 26, marks the eighth DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The twice-yearly event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Hundreds of locations throughout the state will accept unneeded and expired prescription drugs, including controlled substances, for safe and legal disposal.
The collection of these drugs helps prevent diversion, misuse and abuse and ensures the safe destruction of unwanted prescription drugs. To date more than 1,733 tons of unneeded medications have been collected and disposed of nationally. For a drug take back location near you, go to http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.
