Orange County Health Care Agency, Press Release
TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ON APRIL 27, 2013
(Santa Ana) – In an effort to help prevent prescription drug abuse and theft, the Orange County Health Care Agency, local law enforcement agencies and community partners will collaborate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – April 27, from 10 am to 2 pm. There are more than 25 collection sites in Orange County and the service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. To find a collection site in your community, visit the DEA website.
The September 29, 2012 Take-Back event collected more than 5,444 pounds of unwanted prescription medications at many sites throughout Orange County. Nationally, during four previous Take-Back events, the DEA in conjunction with state, local and tribal law enforcement partners have collected more than 2 million pounds (1,018 tons) of prescription medications that were removed from circulation.
National rates of prescription drug abuse, accidental poisoning and overdoses are alarmingly high in the United States – More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Collection sites are located in the following cities:
- Santa Ana – at the Orange County Probation Department, located at 909 N. Main St., Suite 1, in Santa Ana
- Aliso Viejo
- Anaheim
- Brea
- Buena Park
- Corona Del Mar
- Costa Mesa
- Cypress
- Dana Point
- Fountain Valley
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- La Habra Laguna Beach
- Laguna Hills
- Laguna Niguel
- Lake Forest
- Mission Viejo
- Orange
- Placentia
- Rossmoor
- San Clemente
- San Juan Capistrano
- Tustin
- Westminster
- Yorba Linda
To learn more about drug abuse prevention efforts in Orange County, visit the Health Care Agency Alcohol & Drug Education & Prevention Team website.
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