The Santa Monica Police Department has installed a permanent, prescription drugs, disposal drop-box in front of the Public Safety Facility located at 333 Olympic Drive in Santa Monica.
The collection receptacle provides a convenient and reliable means to discard unwanted and expired medications. The program is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national campaign to prevent misuse, abuse and the diversion of controlled substances.
SMPD Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said the self-service, drop box would be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Child poisoning or accidental ingestion are examples of potential and serious safety and health hazards in our community,” Seabrooks said. “In addition the program addresses key environmental concerns from our partners in the city.”
The city’s Water Resource Protection Division of Public Works and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment welcomed the initiative.
Pouring or flushing medications down the drain introduces harmful contaminants into our eco-system. Discarding them in the trash ensures the medications end up in landfills with the potential to leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater.
For more information, contact the Santa Monica Police Department’s Community Affairs Division at 310.458.8474.
