LAPD/Kaiser Permanente Take Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs NA15170lp

What: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Kaiser Permanente (KP) 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.

***NO SHARP NEEDLES WILL BE ACCEPTED***

When: Saturday, September 26, 2015 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Bring your medications for disposal to the following collection sites:

LAPD and Kaiser Representatives will be available at the Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center to speak on the event.

Location 1- Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center 6041 Cadillac Avenue Los Angeles, Ca 90034 Parking Lot #3

Location 2- Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center 13652 Cantara Street Panorama City, CA 91402 Front of North 3 Medical Office

Location 3- Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center Parkview Medical Office Building 25825 S. Vermont Avenue Harbor City, CA 90710

Location 4- Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center 4760 West Sunset Blvd Hollywood, CA 90027

Location 5- Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center 5601 De Soto Ave Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Why: On September 27, 2014, Americans turned in 617,150 pounds-309 tons-of prescription drugs at more than 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and state and local law enforcement partners.

On September 27, 2014, the five Kaiser Permanente drop off locations within the City of Los Angeles collected 2,441 pounds of prescription drugs. In the previous nine Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2014, 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons of drugs were collected.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines are-flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash-both pose potential safety and health hazards.

The Los Angeles Police Department encourages the public to participate and help remove these unwanted, expired and unneeded prescription drugs from their home and use one of the five collection sites for disposal.