Scripps Health and County Agencies Partner on Nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day

WHAT:

Scripps Health is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other community and law enforcement organizations to offer the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

This Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Scripps, the DEA and their partners will host the second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, with 34 drop-off sites in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:

A complete listing of San Diego sites is available on the DEA’s website. Scripps drop-off sites include:

Scripps Coastal Medical Center Carlsbad

2176 Salk Ave., Carlsbad

Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo

15004 Innovation Drive, San Diego

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas

354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas

Scripps Green Hospital

10666 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista

435 H Street, Chula Vista

WHY:

Potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs will be collected for destruction at 34 drop-off sites throughout San Diego County on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous – no questions asked.

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.

During the first Prescription Take Back Day held 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.