National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday Allows Pasadenans to Safely Turn in Expired, Unused Medications

The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold its semiannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday in Pasadena and across the Southland, allowing people to turn in expired, unused prescription medications for disposal.

The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the front steps of the Pasadena Police Department located at 207 N. Garfield Avenue. Representatives from the Pasadena Police Department and Day One will be on-site to assist with the process and answer any questions.

“I encourage everyone across the country to dispose of unneeded medications to help keep our communities safe and healthy,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement. “The Take Back campaign is part of DEA’s continued efforts to combat the drug poisoning epidemic and protect the safety and health of communities across the United States.”

The major focus of the event is to prevent unused prescription medications from falling into the hands of children or other people who may ingest them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 107,622 people died as the result of a drug poisoning in the United States last year. This suggests that someone in the U.S. is dying of a drug poisoning every five minutes, the DEA added.

Since Drug Take Back Day began more than a decade ago, more than 7,000 tons of medications have been collected nationally, according to the DEA.

During the event, people can turn in tablets, capsules, patches and other “solid forms” of prescription drugs. Authorities will also accept vaping devices and cartridges, but lithium batteries must be removed.

Items that will not be accepted for collection are:

liquids that are not sealed in their original container;
syringes and other items classified as “sharps”; and
illegal drugs.

A list of collection sites, which operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is available at www.deatakeback.com. More information is available by calling 800- 882-9539.

Beyond Take Back Day, unneeded medications can be disposed of at close to 15,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses prescription disposal locations. In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.