Where To Dispose Of Expired, Unused Drugs Near Santee

SANTEE, CA — Do you have unused or expired prescription medications taking up space in your cabinets? Here's where you can safely dispose of them this month.

As part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is teaming up with local facilities and agencies to host safe drop-off sites for unwanted medications across California.

The service is free and no questions will be asked. All prescription medications will be accepted but no needles or sharp objects will be allowed.

It’s important to clear old medications out of your home as they are the leading cause of accidental poisoning in households. Unused or expired medications thrown in the garbage or flushed down the toilet can also pollute the environment.

Drug take-back day is a bi-annual event that happens every April and October. Earlier this year, the 26th take-back day resulted in 670,136 pounds of collected medications, according to the DEA.

Medications will be collected from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

• La Mesa Police Department, 8085 University Ave, La Mesa (east parking lot, directly behind City Hall)
• El Cajon Police Department, 100 Civic Center Way, El Cajon (parking lot)
• San Diego Sheriff's Poway Patrol Station, 13100 Bowron Rd, Poway
• San Diego State University, 6095 Canyon Crest Dr, San Diego (at the corner of College Ave. and Canyon Crest Dr.)
• San Diego Police Department, 9225 Aero Dr, San Diego (front lot)

Don't see a collection site close to you? Search for a collection site here by entering your zip code.