Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday gives folks a chance to save a life by doing one simple thing – reducing access.

According to today's community forum in the North County Times called 'Prescription Drug Abuse Deals Death,' NCPC President Aaron Byzak believes it's a good start.

Prescription drug abuse has become the leading cause of accidental death in San Diego County, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and deaths from illicit drugs.

According to the San Diego County medical examiner's office's 2011 report, prescription drugs contributed to a total of 267 unintentional deaths in the county last year out of a total of 479 from all drugs/poisons. A total of 242 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2011.

More must be done to raise awareness about the dangers associated with increased dependence on prescription drugs.

The first step is to reduce access.

>>READ NCT's 'Prescription Drug Abuse Deals Death'

More media: Ramona Sentinel"Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday"

This Saturday marks the 5th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Visit one of eight North County locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to drop off your unused, unwanted medications for safe, environmentally-safe destruction.

Be sure to post up your "Show Us Your Meds" *photo on our FACEBOOK wall or TWITTER feed of your bag of meds or pictures of the drop-off site your visit. *[Please, do not photograph any confidential information pay someone write my paper on the prescription bottles. Photos of bags are fine.]

Grab your bag of unwanted prescriptions and head down to one of the convenient locations below or check here for the full list.

Here's the participating North County locations:

  • Scripps Encinitas Hospital, 354 Santa Fe Drive, Encinitas
  • Scripps Coastal Medical Center, 2176 Salk Ave., Carlsbad
  • Scripps Rancho Bernardo Clinic, 15004 Innovation Drive, San Diego
  • Tri-City Hospital, 402 Vista Way, Oceanside
  • Fallbrook Sheriff's Station, 388 E. Alvarado St., Fallbrook
  • Escondido Police Station, 1163 N. Centre City Pkwy., Escondido
  • Ramona Albertson's Parking Lot, 1459 Main St., Ramona
  • Poway Sheriff's Station, 13100 Bowron Road, Poway

Find permanent collection drop box locations at www.sdsheriff.net.  Get help by calling the prescription drug hotline at (887) 662-6384 or the County’s Access and Crisis Line at 800-479-3339.

Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday
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