Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Did you know that most drinking water in the US is contaminated, at some level, by pharmaceuticals? A U.S. Geological Survey found that 53 of 74 testing locations had one or more pharmaceuticals in the water.

Outside of water and environmental issues, there's the obvious risk of the drugs getting into the hands of kids and adults who were never intended to have them, and with the opioid epidemic top-of-mind, this seems like an important observance to prioritize this weekend.

Hoag is joining the Newport Beach Police Department and Irvine Police Department in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. to collect expired, unused or unwanted prescription medications. Drive-up-and-drop-off collection sites will be at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach in the Sunset View parking lot and Hoag Health Center Irvine at 16405 Sand Canyon Ave.

If those sites aren’t convenient, but you’d still like to drop off unused medications, please visit the DEA site here to find a closer location: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/