header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather
Calendar


[KHTS] – Santa Clarita residents have the opportunity to help prevent prescription-drug abuse among teens and adults alike by turning in their unused or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal at Henry Mayo Hospital on Saturday.

DrugTakeback-SliderIn partnership with the Action Family Foundation and KHTS AM-1220, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital will serve as Santa Clarita’s drop-off location for the drug take-back event, which is being held at thousands of locations across the country by the Drug Enforcement Administration in honor of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, according to a hospital news release.

“We’re at epidemic levels when it comes to substance abuse, especially prescription pills, and we have got to get these pills out of homes and off the streets,” said Cary Quashen, founder and CEO of Action Family Counseling drug and alcohol rehab centers and the non-profit Action Family Foundation. “Those pills are dangerous and deadly, and we’re on a mission to do our part here in Santa Clarita to save our kids.”

Santa Clarita residents are encouraged to check their medicine cabinets for unused or expired prescription pills and bring them to the hospital, where they can anonymously dispose of them for free, with no questions asked, event officials said.

Recent studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet, according to the news release.

“One of the major ways young people are getting them is right out of medicine cabinets,” Quashen said. “What we hear all the time is, ‘My kid won’t,’ and maybe not, but what about their friends? You never know who is going to walk into your house.”

Experimenting with prescription drugs can also be directly linked to heroin use later on, said Krissy McAfee, who serves on the board of the Action Family Foundation. She cited research indicating 77 percent of heroin users started with prescription drugs.

This link is due to the fact that the same opiate high people seek from prescription pills can be obtained by using heroin, which is much cheaper and easier to obtain, Quashen said in an earlier interview, further contributing to the importance of keeping prescription pills out of the wrong hands.

In addition to preventing drug misuse, the event increases public awareness and addresses vital public safety and health issues, including the recent discovery that traditional methods of drug disposal– like flushing pills down the toilet, or even throwing them in the trash– pose potential hazards, event officials said.

Over the past few years, the Environmental Protection Agency has gotten involved in the disposal of prescription drugs, finding that flushing pills down the toilet can pollute the water supply, said Gerald Subar, pharmacy director at Henry Mayo Hospital. As a result, the practice is no longer recommended.

Last year’s event resulted in 324 tons, or about 647,000 pounds, of prescription drugs being turned in at more than 4,114 sites across the country, and this year’s event is expected to bring in similar results with 5,600 sites nationwide, according to the news release.

Since the DEA held their first drug take-back event in 2010, more than 3.4 million pounds of pills have been collected, McAfee said.

“Events like these are what the Action Family Foundation is all about,” said Jeri Seratti-Goldman, the foundation’s president. “We want to support families any way we can in the fight against illegal drug use, and getting rid of unused or expired prescriptions can help make sure they don’t get into the wrongs hands.”

Santa Clarita residents can bring their pills and patches for disposal to Henry Mayo Hospital, located at 23845 McBean Parkway, outside the front main entrance door on Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.

The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s station, located at 23740 W. Magic Mountain Parkway, is also serving as a drop-off location during the same hours.

 

Comment On This Story

2 Comments

  1. Tommy Rini says:

    Sounds like a good place to get high

  2. Tommy Rini says:

    On doing the right thing!

Leave a Comment


Related Content
Latest Stories on SCVNews.com
2000 - Rancho Camulos designated a National Historic Landmark [story]
Rancho Camulos
1939 - Los Angeles premiere of John Ford's "Stagecoach"; approx. 7 seconds shot in SCV [Watch Clip]
Stagecoach movie
Since the beginning of time, art has been a unifying force, a medium through which people connect, express and envision the world in new and exciting ways.
Bill Miranda | Art, Innovation and Community
The Saugus Union School Board of Trustees regular meeting will include a discussion of practices and provide direction to superintendent and cabinet on consequences for students with "Big Behaviors."
Feb. 18: Saugus School Board to Discuss Student ‘Big Behaviors’
The California Department of Public Health reports seasonal influenza cases and activity are high in California, but it’s not too late to get the flu shot to prevent severe illness and hospitalization.
Flu Activity Remains High, But It’s Not Too Late to Get Vaccinated
Join the Valley Industry Association on Thursday, May 15 for the 2025 Workforce Development Conference to be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.
May 15: VIA 2025 Workforce Development Conference The Future of Work 2.0
Among several important topics, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will hear a report on the county’s implementation of the people experiencing homelessness missions at the Tuesday, Feb. 18 regular board meeting.
Feb. 18: Supervisors to Hear Homelessness Report
The Safe, Clean Water Program Watershed Area Steering Committee Santa Clara River will meet on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 1–3 p.m.
Feb. 20: Safe, Clean Water Program Watershed Area Steering Committee
The Master's University women's basketball team scored the first basket of the game in the first four seconds and never looked back to defeat the Embry-Riddle Eagles 72-61 Wednesday night, Feb. 12 in Prescott, Ariz.
Lady Mustangs beat ERAU in Arizona
The Master's University beach volleyball team opened up the 2025 season with a pair of wins Wednesday, Feb. 12 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, Ariz.
Sandy ‘Stangs Open Season with Wins
Eric Clarke and Front Row Theatre have announced the premiere of the original production "Disconnect" at The MAIN in Old Town Newhall.
Feb. 21-23: Front Row Center Presents ‘Disconnect’ at The MAIN
College of the Canyons baseball clubbed three home runs in the fifth and took a tie game into the 10th inning before eventually falling to Chaffey College in a 7-6 final score at Mike Gillespie Field on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Cougars Fall in Extras vs. Chaffey
College of the Canyons softball swept its non-conference doubleheader over Santa Barbara City College at Whitten field on Tuesday, Feb. 11, taking both games in five innings while running its win streak to four games.
Canyons Sweeps Doubleheader from Santa Barbara
In response to the devastating impact of the Eaton Fire, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger is urgently calling on local property owners with available rental units to help house displaced families.
County Seeks Rental Units for Families Displaced by Eaton Fire
U.S. Rep. George Whitesides (D-Agua Dulce) introduced his first bill in the 119th Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 11, to provide tax relief for residents in his district impacted by the Chiquita Canyon landfill.
Whitesides First Bill, Chiquita Canyon Payments Tax Relief
Princess Cruises, which has been headquartered in Valencia since 2001 has announced plans to vacate it's Santa Clarita offices and relocate to south Florida within the next three years.
Princess Cruises Officially Announces Plans to Leave Santa Clarita
1939 - Newhall Elementary School burns down; pupils rejoice [story]
Newhall school
Pets Global, Inc., the Valencia-based maker of Zignature and Fussie Cat premium dog and cat food, has donated 4,000 pounds of pet food for the Rescue Train's Saturday, Feb. 15 Mobile Pet Assistance Event.
Valencia’s Pets Global Donates Food for Rescue Train Anniversary
The SCV Eco Alliance will hold its second EcoFilm Festival at College of the Canyons, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 8.
March 8: SCV Eco Alliance Eco-Film Festival at COC
Madre Oaxacan Restaurant & Mezcaleria will host Noche Sabrosa, a social dancing event, 9:30 p.m.- midnight Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 27007 McBean Parkway, Valencia CA 91355.
Feb. 18: Noche Sabrosa Social Dancing at Madre Oaxacan Restaurant
Joann Inc. has announced it will close 500 of its 800 stores nationwide, including the Joann Fabrics and Crafts store in Santa Clarita at 26583 Carl Boyer Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Joann Fabrics to Close 500 Stores, Including Santa Clarita Location
The American Automobile Association of Santa Clarita will host a Japan Travel Show, 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at 23770 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita CA 91355.
Feb. 20: AAA Santa Clarita Japan Travel Show
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is seeking a person of interest in the death of Menghan Zhuang, a 23-year-old student at California Institute of the Arts.
LASD Seeks Person of Interest in Murder of CalArts Student Menghan Zhuang
1999 - SCV & AV split off from 805 area code to become 661 [story]
Pacific Telephone
SCVNews.com