Crime & Safety

Drug Take-Back Day Set for Saturday

People with unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs can drop them off free for disposal at one of many collection sites Saturday.

Numerous Southland law enforcement organizations—including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department—will team up with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday to collect unwanted prescription medications.

The National Take Back Initiative collections will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at various locations where people can drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The program is free and anonymous.

Take back locations in and near Palos Verdes include:

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  • 340 Palos Verdes Drive West (Palos Verdes Estates Police Department), Palos Verdes Estates
  • 26123 S. Narbonne Ave. (Lomita Sheriff's Station), Lomita
  • 25825 S. Vermont Ave. (Kaiser Harbor City), Harbor City
  • 24th St. (Main Gate; Fort MacArthur), San Pedro
  • 3300 Civic Center Drive (Torrance Police Department), Torrance

A comprehensive list of the locations is available at on the DEA's website. The service is free and no questions will be asked.

Illict substances—including methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana—will not be accepted. Over-the-counter medications and needles will not be accepted at the Palos Verdes Estates drop-off location.

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A total of 244 tons of prescription drugs were turned in nationwide during collections at over 5,200 sites last September, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Many of the unused or expired prescription medications that are kept in the home are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse," according to a statement from the Redondo Beach Police Department. "Many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet."

Flushing medications down the toilet or disposing of them in the trash both pose potential safety and health hazards, according to the LAPD.

—City News Service contributed to this report.


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