On Saturday, April 30, bring your expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications to SFPD’s Northern Station for disposal between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s 2009 national survey on drug use and health. Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

In an effort to address this problem, the DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, conducted the first ever National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. The purpose of National Take Back Day was to provide a venue for persons who wanted to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. This effort was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances, from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in the event. All told, the American public turned in more than 121 tons of pills at the first National Take Back Day.

Due to the overwhelming success of the first event, the DEA has scheduled the
second National Prescription Drug Take Back Day for Saturday, April 30, 2011. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the first event or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to dispose of them safely.

Northern Station is located at 1125 Fillmore Street (at Turk). Call 415-614-3400 for more information.