Riverside Police Partners with Kaiser Hospital for National Drug Take Back Day
Published: 10/22/2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2017
CONTACT:
Detective Michael Bucy
Narcotics Unit
Special Investigations Bureau
(951) 353-7221
RIVERSIDE POLICE PARTNERS WITH KAISER HOSPITAL FOR NATIONAL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
RIVERSIDE, CA – The Riverside Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies around the nation, will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” on Saturday, October 28, 2017. The event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, located at 10800 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside, in the northwest parking lot.
This initiative seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft through the collection of potentially dangerous and 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 program 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. 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 Detective Michael Bucy at (951) 353-7221.
