For Immediate Release: SEPTEMBER 29, 2012
Contact: Nicole Stanfield, (714) 834-2178, nstanfield@ochca.com
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK EVENT
(Santa Ana) – In an effort to help prevent pill abuse and theft, the Orange County Health Care Agency, local law enforcement agencies and community partners will collaborate with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day – September 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are over 25 collection sites in Orange County and the service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. To find a collection site in your community, visit the DEA website.
The April 2012 Take-Back event collected over 4,567 pounds of unwanted prescription medications at 24 sites throughout Orange County, and 276 tons at 5,659 sites nationwide. National rates of prescription drug abuse, accidental poisoning and overdoses are alarmingly high in the United States – More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Collection sites are located in the following cities:
- Aliso Viejo
- Anaheim
- Costa Mesa
- Cypress
- Fountain Valley
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- La Habra
- Laguna Beach
- Laguna Niguel
- Mission Viejo
- Newport Beach
- Orange
- Placentia
- San Clemente
To learn more about drug abuse prevention efforts in Orange County, please visit the Health Care Agency website.
# # #
Nicole Stanfield
Public Information & Communications
Orange County Health Care Agency
Media Line: (714) 834-2178