Culver City Observer -

Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, encourages community members to participate in the 10th “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” on Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the medical center.

This program provides local residents with an opportunity to safely and easily dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines. A pharmacist will also be available for consultation and there will be a free drive-thru drop-off service for unused, unwanted medications.

“Events like this address a crucial public safety and public health concern," says Sunny Lee, area pharmacy director at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center. "It also serves as an opportunity to educate patients and families about the dangers of expired, unwanted, or unused medications, particularly when they are not properly destroyed. It has historically been quite a successful program for us, and one that our members value and utilize."

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.

Kaiser Permanente medical centers throughout Southern California will serve as drop sites for disposal of expired, unwanted, and unused medicines. The service is free, easy, and anonymous.

“This program has been a tremendous success,” said Alan Kiyohara, vice president, Pharmacy Operations and Services, Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “In 2014, our Southern California facilities collected over 7,300 pounds of expired or unwanted medicines. 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.”

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

Drop-off information:

Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center

Northeast Parking Lot #3

6041 Cadillac Avenue

Los Angeles, CA 90034

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 to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 3.7 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: http://www.kp.org/share.