Oceanside CA- Looking to get rid of unwanted and expired prescription drugs? The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, The Oceanside Police Department and Carlsbad Police Department will collect and dispose of these medicines during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) eighth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs have been determined to present substantial risks to our community by either falling into the wrong hands, or by damaging our environment through improper disposal. It is this awareness that has resulted in the San Diego County Sheriff and the Board of Supervisors working together to provide a safe alternative method to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals.
Studies have shown that residential supplies of pharmaceutical controlled substances – those found in our home medicine cabinets – have become the supply of choice for young people and criminals. Many abusers, a high percentage of which are teens, are known to have obtained their controlled substances from the homes of family and friends. In addition, research has shown that our environment has been threatened by medications being flushed down toilets. Most controlled substances are created synthetically, and are not removed through normal water-treatment processes. This can result in the discharge of these substances into the environment and into our ground water supplies.
This event is on Saturday, April 26th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Law enforcement will be at the following locations:

• Oceanside (OPD) – Tri-City Medical Center 4002 Vista Way
• Carlsbad – (CPD) Scripps Coastal Medical Center 2176 Salk Ave
• Encinitas – (SDSO) Scripps Encinitas Hospital 354 Santa Fe Drive
• Fallbrook – (SDSO) Sheriff’s Substation 388 East Alvarado Street
• Vista – (SDSO) Walgreens Parking Lot 310 Sycamore Road

This service is free and anonymous. No sharps or needles accepted. Unwanted or expired prescription drugs can be dangerous to the community by falling into the wrong hands.
For a list of other county drop-off locations, go to: http://goo.gl/khdhWt. You can also drop off unwanted prescriptions at any Sheriff’s Station or Substation during normal business hours. For more information, visit: http://goo.gl/5PAQy.