On Saturday, October 29th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM the Manhattan Beach Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to Manhattan Beach Police Department at 420 15th Street, Manhattan Beach. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that the majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medications from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, we ask that the individual remove any identifying information from the prescription label. Illicit substances such as marijuana and methamphetamine are not a part of this program and will not be accepted.