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Turn In Expired Prescription Drugs To Riverside County Police Agencies

RIVERSIDE (CBS) — Police agencies throughout Riverside County will be accepting expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs Saturday as part of National Pharmaceutical Take-Back Day.

About 376,593 pounds of prescription drugs were collected at 7,400 drop-off sites last April.

Medical professionals warn of the dangers of sharing prescription drugs, which can lead to accidental overdoses and poisonings.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, which hosts the take-back events, disposing of prescriptions by tossing them down the toilet or dumping them in the trash can also pose health and safety hazards.

The Riverside, Beaumont and Murrieta police departments are each partnering with the DEA for Saturday's take-back, accepting unwanted drugs at the following locations:

-- Kaiser Permanente Hospital, parking lot, 10800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside;
-- Beaumont Civic Center, 550 E. 6th St.; and
-- Murrieta Police Department, 2 Town Square.

In September 2010, the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act was enacted, mandating that prescription medications be discarded in a safe manner.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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