Riverside Police Partner with KaiserPermanente Riverside Hospital for National Take Back Day

The Riverside Police Department, along with other law enforcement
agencies around the nation, will be participating in the National Drug Take Back Day.
This initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft through the collection of potentially
dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The Riverside Police Department
is partnering with Kaiser Permanente Hospital and will be collecting these types of drugs for
proper disposal. The event is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many people are not aware
that medications that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and
abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as
are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a
majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends. In addition, many
people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medications, often flushing them
down the toilet or throwing them away, both offering potential safety and health hazards.

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Kaiser Permanente Hospital Parking Lot (NW corner)
10800 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside

The Riverside Police Department will collect the unwanted pharmaceuticals and turn them over
to the DEA who will safely destroy the drugs. For more information regarding the National Take
Back Initiative, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback, or contact
Supervisor Karen Haverkamp at 951-353-7999.