Law Enforcement, DEA, and Kaiser Team Up for National Drug Take Back Day

Local law enforcement agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center are teaming up Saturday for National Drug Take Back Day collection events.

The events give the public a chance to prevent pill abuse and theft by safely getting rid of their unused or unwanted medications.

At Kaiser Permanente, the medical center is offering a drive-thru service near the patient drop-off area at the hospital's entrance so the public can easily dispose of the medicines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a news release. The medical center is located at 1011 Baldwin Park Boulevard in Baldwin Park.

The service is both free and anonymous.

The following items will be accepted: controlled substances/prescriptions, non-controlled substances/prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and veterinary medications (pills and solids only).

Items that won't be accepted include liquid waste products, intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes, hazardous or household waste (paint, oil, batteries, etc.).

“We are eager to partner with the Baldwin Park Police Department and the DEA to provide this opportunity for members of the community to safely dispose of unwanted medications,” Terry Hustana, Area Pharmacy Director, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center, said in a news release.  “At last year’s event, we collected 1,000 pounds of medications that that would normally end up in a land fill, in our water systems, or in other people’s hands. This is a much-needed service that I encourage everyone to take advantage of.”

Other places Monrovia residents can drop off their unwanted medications include the following:

• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Temple City Station -
  8838 E. Las Tunas Drive
• Pasadena Police Department - in front of lobby 207 Garfield Ave.
•  Glendora Police Department - 150 S. Glendora Ave. 
• Glendale Police Department RITE AID - 647 Foothill Boulevard, La Canada Flintridge. 

In addition to the risk of accidental poisonings and overdoses related to these drugs, the public is now advised that the typical method of flushing these medicines down the toilet also poses a potential safety and health hazard, officials said.