Kaiser South Bay Hosts Drug Take Back Day In Fight Against Opioids

LOS ANGELES, CA — Community members are invited to drop off unwanted, unused, or expired medications Saturday during a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event at Kaiser Permanente Southern California facilities, including the South Bay location.

The event is in partnership with local law enforcement agencies and one of the drop-off locations is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Kaiser Permanente South Bay, Parkview Medical Office, 25825 S. Vermont Avenue, Harbor City.

“Properly disposing of unused or expired medications is one way that we can all help protect our community," Shelly Fisher, Pharm.D., Area Pharmacy Director, told Patch. "Drug take-back events ensure that these drugs aren’t polluting our waterways or ending up in the wrong hands, where they could potentially cause harm.”

Prescription drug take-back programs address vital public safety and public health issues in communities.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, more people started down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs, and each year higher amounts of opioids are being turned in at the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events.

People unable to participate on April 30 can properly dispose of medications at drug disposal kiosks in Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout Southern California. A listing of additional drop-off locations available for public use can be found on the Drug Enforcement Administration website.