Scripps Health to Partner on First Nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Scripps Health will host four drop-off locations in San Diego County during the first nationwide prescription drug take back day. On Sept. 25, from 10 am to 2 pm, personnel will be available to accept unused prescription drugs from people who want to dispose of their medications safely and anonymously at the following Scripps Health locations:
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
435 H Street, Chula Vista
Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad
2176 Salk Avenue, Carlsbad
10666 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
On Saturday, Sept. 25, at 11 am Scripps Health and local community partners, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Sherriff’s Office and County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, will host a press conference at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas to call attention to the significant role prescription drug abuse plays in our community.
According to the DEA, many Americans are not aware that medications in the home are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. The rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate, as is the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Data from the San Diego County medical examiner’s office indicates that prescription drug-related deaths increased 67 percent between 2005 and 2009 in San Diego County.
In addition to preventing prescription drug abuse, proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications keeps others safe. Expired medication can cause harm to adults, children and pets if ingested. Proper disposal of medications also safeguards drinking water. Medication should never be flushed down the toilet as this can cause drugs to enter the water supply, polluting human water supplies and causing danger to natural aquatic habitats.
Scripps Health promotes and urges safe medication practices, which includes taking annual inventory of household medications to purge any that are expired and never sharing medications with others. In addition, it is important to keep track of all medications taken — prescription, over-the-counter and herbal — along with the dosage and frequency. In case of an emergency, this information could be extremely valuable in preventing drug interactions.
About Scripps Health
Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $2.2 billion, private not-for-profit community health system based in San Diego, Calif. Scripps treats a half-million patients annually through the dedication of 2,500 affiliated physicians and 13,000 employees among its five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, and ambulatory care network of physician offices and 20 outpatient centers and clinics.
Scripps is recognized as a leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, and is at the forefront of clinical research and graduate medical education. More information can be found at www.scripps.org.
Contact: Kristin Reinhardt
Phone: 619-686-3787
Cell: 619-565-7038