Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and Panorama City Partner with Los Angeles Police Department and DEA to Take-Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and Panorama City, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Los Angeles Police Department, is encouraging community members to participate in the eighth “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” on Saturday, April 26, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prescription drug take-back programs provide local residents with an opportunity to safely and easily dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines.

“Events like this not only address a crucial public safety and public health concern, but they provide pharmacies and law enforcement with an additional forum for raising awareness about the benefits of participating in the program,” said Lisa Rosa, PharmD, Area Pharmacy Director of Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills.

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 100 people die from drug overdoses involving prescription painkillers every day in the United States.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

“By properly disposing of prescription drugs, we eliminate expired or unwanted medication that can otherwise pose a hazard to the safety of children, families, local communities, and the environment,” said Karla Silver, RPh, Area Pharmacy Director of Kaiser Permanente Panorama City.

Kaiser Permanente medical centers throughout Southern California will serve as collection sites for disposal of expired, unwanted, and unused medicines. Residents may bring their medications for disposal to any of the following Kaiser Permanente medical centers.  The service is free, easy, and anonymous.

In the San Fernando Valley, residents may bring their medications for disposal at the following locations:

Kaiser Permanente Panorama City, 13652 Cantara St., Panorama City, CA, 91402. The collection site is located outside the North 3 Medical Offices.

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills, 5601 De Soto Ave., Woodland Hills, CA, 91367. The collection site is located in the disabled parking lot, next to the patient drop-off circle.

If residents are unable to participate on April 26, they can also purchase “mail back” postage-paid envelopes available at Kaiser Permanente and many other pharmacies.   

For more information about “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” or for a list of additional collection sites, please visit www.dea.gov.  Information about medication safety is also available on the DEA website or at kp.org.