It’s time to check your medicine cabinet for any unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will occur on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Participants can drop off unneeded medications anonymously, including pills, patches, and veterinary drugs. They may be dropped off in their original containers, or loose medicines, such as pills, can be deposited in sealed plastic bags. Liquids like cough medicines will be accepted if tightly packed in their original containers. Vaping devices are accepted if the batteries have been removed. Take Back sites cannot accept syringes, sharps, illicit drugs, aerosols, or Warfarin (coumadin).
Drug drop-off sites include Tri-City Medical Center at 4002 Vista Way in Oceanside,
North County Justice Center at 325 S. Melrose Drive in Vista
Carlsbad Police Department at 5750 Orion Street in Carlsbad. For military members (active duty, retired, beneficiaries, and staff only), there is a drop-off site at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital, Bldg. H200.
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) launched the Prescription Drug Take Back Day program in 2010 to help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction by removing unneeded medications from the home. According to the DEA, one in four teenagers has misused or abused a prescription drug. Often, these drugs are obtained from the family medicine cabinet.
For those unable to make it to a Take Back Day site, there are more than 100 year-round prescription drop-off sites throughout San Diego County. An interactive map of permanent drop off locations can be found at the San Diego County Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force website at sdpdatf.org. This website also provides an interactive map of opioid treatment programs.
Resources and services are available to assist with screening, treatment, and recovery for individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD). The Access and Crisis Line is open year-round,
2417, at (888)724-7240.
