Dozens of county locations are participating in National Drug Take Back Day

San Diego County residents looking to get rid of expired, unused or unwanted medications will have the opportunity to safely dispose of them at several locations Saturday during National Drug Take Back Day.

The effort, organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in collaboration with local law enforcement, aims to underscore the importance of eliminating commonly abused drugs.

For a complete list of statewide drop-off locations, visit www.dea.gov/takebackday.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department will pick up and dispose of these medications at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

— Alpine Sheriff's Station – 2751 Alpine Blvd.

— Imperial Beach Sheriff’s Substation – 845 Imperial Beach Blvd. Imperial Beach

— San Marcos Sheriff's Station – 182 Santar Place, San Marcos

— Poway Sheriff's Station – 13100 Bowron Road, Poway

“For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans remove unnecessary medications – old, unwanted or expired – from their homes,” the DEA said. “These drugs can be a gateway to addiction and have helped fuel the opioid epidemic.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 110,000 people died from drug poisonings and drug-related deaths in 2023. DEA officials said that the majority of people who have abused a prescription drug received it from a relative or friend, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

During the last take-back day in April, DEA officials said 335 tons of unwanted drugs were collected nationwide. Since the Take Back program began in 2010, around 9,285 tonnes have been collected.

Collection points accept tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription and over-the-counter medications. The Sites do not accept liquids, syringes, sharp objects or illegal drugs.

The DEA noted that provisions of the federal Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act allow pharmacies, hospitals and other facilities to serve as collection sites year-round.

–City Intelligence Service