Kaiser West LA Hosts Drug Take Back Day In Fight Against Opioid Crisis

WEST 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 West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles Medical Center, 6041 Cadillac Ave., Los Angeles.

People can drive up to the 24-hours pharmacy turnaround at the medical center to bring the unused prescriptions.

“We believe we all have an important role in ensuring medications are used as prescribed, and that unused medications do not fall into the wrong hands. For National Drug Take Back Day, we have partnered with the DEA to provide residents a convenient and anonymous way to dispose of their medications safely,” said Paige Lin, area pharmacy director, Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles.

Prescription drug take-back programs address vital public safety and public health issues in communities. In April 2021, a total of 20 boxes weighing an estimated 210 pounds were collected at the Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles event alone.

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.