LAPD and DEA Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs in Conjunction with Kaiser Permanente

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, October 27, 2018 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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

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 South 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

Location 6- KOA Center Parking Lot 3727 West 6th Street Los Angeles, Ca. 90020

Location 7- Hollywood Station Senior Lead Officer Building 6501 Fountain Avenue Hollywood, CA. 90028 (Senior Lead Officer building)

Location 8- Spring Street Park 426 South Spring Street Los Angeles, Ca 90017

Why: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States (US) is in the midst of a prescription painkiller overdose epidemic. Prescription medication related deaths have been deemed as the number one cause of accidental deaths in the US. A large portion of those deaths are directly related to opioid prescription painkillers that are frequently overprescribed. Since 2009, prescribing of prescription painkillers in the US has quadrupled, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain reported by patients in the US. Because of the overprescribing of prescription painkillers, the US has seen more abuse and more overdose deaths. Furthermore, prescription medication is fast becoming the new “party” drugs for many teenagers. The new trend among youth is known as “pharming” or, kids using prescription drugs for recreational use. Many parents are not aware that their own medicine cabinets are potential sources of these drugs for teenage abuse. This practice is life-threatening, and a kid can die doing it for the first time. By education, awareness, and giving the public the opportunity to dispose unused, unwanted and expire prescription drugs are the key to preventing the abuse of prescription medication by adults and teenagers. On Saturday, October 27, 2018, LAPD and DEA will give the public an opportunity to dispose unused and expired prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.