Kaiser Permanente Southern California Teams-Up with the DEA and Local Law Enforcement for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

PASADENA, Calif., April 26, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Kaiser Permanente Southern California, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law-enforcement agencies, is encouraging residents to participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27. The one-day event provides an opportunity to properly dispose of unwanted and expired medicines while protecting the safety of kids, families, local communities and the environment.

Check medicine cabinets for outdated prescriptions. List of disposal locations »

“Events like this address a crucial public safety and public health issue,” said Steven W. Gray, PharmD, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Pharmacy Regulatory Compliance and Professional Affairs leader. “Improperly handled medication is a leading cause of accidental poisoning. Flushed medicines can end up polluting the environment and trashed items can end up in the hands of others for misuse and abuse,” he added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from the use of prescription painkillers have reached epidemic levels in the past decade. In 2010 alone, about 12 million Americans age 12 or older reported nonmedical use of prescription painkillers in the past year. Furthermore, a 2011 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 6 million Americans abuse prescription drugs. That same study revealed more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers acquired them through friends or family, or by raiding the medicine cabinet.

Kaiser Permanente medical centers throughout Southern California will be serving as collection sites. Residents may bring their medications for disposal to one of the following Kaiser Permanente medical centers (pdf). The service is free and anonymous.

For additional information about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day or for a list of additional collection sites, please visit www.dea.gov.

About Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 3.6 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/newscenter.

Contact: Mayra Suárez, office: 626-405-2652, mobile: 310-710-8479