Medication Take-Back Bins Installed at Pasadena Vons Locations

In response to the nation’s growing opioid crisis, a state agency has partnered with an advocacy group to install 240 free drug take-back bins across the state, including two in California, representatives announced last week.

The two Pasadena collection bins are both located at Vons Pharmacy locations, 155 W. California Blvd. and 2355 E. Colorado Blvd., according to the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC).

Both locations can accept both controlled and noncontrolled drugs, according to the organization.

Items that cannot be accepted, however, include illegal drugs, needles or medical sharps, iodine-containing medications, radiopharmaceuticals, chemotherapy or cytotoxic medications, thermometers and business medical waste.

The project results from a partnership between the CPSC and the California Department of Health Care Services.

“The program helps to combat the opioid crisis and reduces the misuse of medications by providing options to the public to safely dispose of their unwanted medicines,” according to a CPSC statement. “The program is designed and administered by CPSC, a leading expert in safe medicine collection, funded through a $3 million grant awarded to CPSC by DHCS.”

The bins are meant to be one piece in the fight against opioid addiction, as well as keep the substances out of the environment.

“Through this program, Californians all over the state will now have greater access to convenient, safe and environmentally friendly options to dispose of unwanted and potentially harmful medications,” said CPSC Executive Director Doug Kobold.

“By expanding public access to these bins at convenient locations, the program will help to combat the statewide opioid crisis and protect water quality,” he added. “Bin hosts have been screened to ensure that the bins are placed in locations with priority given to communities with the greatest need. The medication bins are a win for the health of our California communities and the environment.”

A list of drug take-back bin locations, as well as an application to host a collection bin, is available at takebackdrugs.org.