Drug Take Back Day is Oct. 24

Bring expired prescriptions to Main Gate from 10-2 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the Seal Beach Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 19th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to Leisure World’s Security building at the main gate. (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last April, Americans turned in over 468 tons (over 937,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 11,816,393 pounds—more than 3,000 tons—of pills.

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 U.S. are high, 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, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, the usual methods for disposing of unused medicines— flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash— pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 24 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj. gov/drug_disposal/index.html

Directions for shareholders:

• Driving: Stay on the left exit lane on Golden Rain Road and make a left turn onto the driveway between the Security building and the LW Globe. After dropping off your unused medications you will make a left turn to re-enter the community.

• Walking: You may take the Minibus, walk or ride your bicycle to the Main gate, walk outside to the OCTA bus waiting area.

For your privacy a Department of Justice officer will be onsite to ensure your medical container with personal information is not touched once deposited in the recycling receptacle which is then incinerated complete with drugs and containers. —Eloy Gomez, safety coordinator