Citizens filled six large boxes with prescription drugs at last weekend’s no-questions-asked prescription drug drop-off event in Seal Beach.
The drop-off was held Saturday, Sept. 27, at police headquarters at 911 Seal Beach Blvd., at the Adolfo Lopez intersection.
Sgt. Phil Gonshak described the event as successful. He said six large boxes were filled with prescription drugs. The Drug Enforcement Administration, which partnered with Seal Beach, told him that 43 and one-half pounds of drugs were collected.
This was the ninth drug take back event in four years. The Los Alamitos Police Department did not participate in last weekend’s collection activity.
In late April 2014, the SBPD collected more than 225 pounds of unused medications. The Los Alamitos Police collected approximately 160 pounds of medications on the same day.
In October 2013, Americans turned in 324 tons (over 647,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,114 sites operated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and state and local law enforcement agencies. According to law enforcement, those figures combined with the results of previous take back events, mean that DEA and its partners have taken in more than 1,700 tons of pills since the program began.
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 alarmingly 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, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose potential health hazards.
DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow a patient or their family member to dispose of medicines by delivering them to authorized agencies.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Thursday, August 21
Illegal Peddlers—6:51 p.m.—Howard and Midway—The caller reported that kids were being dropped off in the area and were selling magazine subscriptions. The caller believed they’re from a school out of the county. Patrol contacted and the parties agreed to comply with the municipal code.
Friday, August 22
Family Disturbance—10:48 p.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported finding a woman who said a man was trying to hurt her. The caller said the man walked off. The woman was now walking away and refusing to answer questions. The man might still have been in the area. Patrol contacted the woman and determined no crime had been committed. The woman was picked up.
Saturday, August 23
Disturbance—2:56 a.m.—Maple Street—The caller said two women and two men were in a verbal argument, and that it was escalating and possibly going to become physical. No weapons were seen. Patrol determined it was an argument between a boyfriend and girlfriend. Patrol counseled and the woman left for the evening.
Welfare Check—1:13 p.m.—Reagan Street and Howard Avenue—The caller reported a man wearing a blue hospital gown going southbound on Reagan Street.
A second caller says the man was at Reagan Street and Howard Avenue, and said the man appeared disoriented.
The man was detained to the rear of Vons, and transported back to the emergency room at Los Alamitos Medical Center.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, September 22
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—5:17 p.m.—Mainway Drive—The caller said a pick up parked across the street from the location and occupied by one man had been present for more than 20 minutes.
Tuesday, September 23
Welfare Check—1:41 p.m.—Wallingsford Road—The caller was advised by an elderly tenant that his roommate might be dead. According to the log, the death appeared natural.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:12 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard and Farquhar Avenue—A woman came to Bethlehem Church saying she was homeless. She asked for money because she said she wanted to stay at Don’s Surf Motel. When questioned, she got angry. The caller thought the woman might have mental health issues.
Wednesday, September 24
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:38 a.m.—Tucker Lane and Foster Road—A deputy performed a patrol check for a man who had been sitting on the side of a neighbor’s home for four hours. The caller thought this was suspicious.
IN Belmont SHore
Tuesday, September 23
Breaking and Entering—9:48 p.m.—E. Second Street and Livingtson Drive.—This was a residential burglary.
Battery—10:06 p.m.—Livingston Drive and E. Second Street.
Jeff Miller, secretary of the Belmont Shore Residents Association and Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
