If you have prescriptions that are expired or no longer needed, take advantage of the annual DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, October 24, 2020 from 10am to 2pm. There are multiple locations in San Diego County where you can safely and anonymously dispose of drugs that could otherwise find their way into the wrong hands.

Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

This year's event will be completely contact free. Most locations are offering a drive-thru process where you can simply hand your bag of prescriptions to one of the event workers. Once received, your items are sealed in a box and sent for environmentally safe destruction.

The DEAs office assures that if you choose to drop of your prescriptions in their bottles, the labels will remain secure and until they are also destroyed. Although you have the option of removing pills from bottles and simply handing them over in a zip-lock or tied bag.

The DEA Take Back Day was started because all too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. Since May of 2016, 7,121,102 pounds (over 3,650 tons) of prescription drugs have been collected by the DEA at Take Back Day events.

Here is a list of drop-off locations in San Diego County:

Chula Vista Police Department at Chula Vista Public Works MAP

Coronado Police Department (alley behind police station) MAP

El Cajon Police Department (parking lot) MAP

Escondido Police Department MAP

La Mesa Police Department (lot directly behind City Hall) MAP

MCAS Miramar-Marine Corps Exchange MAP

Naval Medical Center San Diego in Balboa Park (for active, retired, beneficiaries and staff only) MAP

Naval Medical Center San Diego at 32nd Exchange (for active, retired, beneficiaries and staff only) MAP

National City Police Department MAP

Oceanside Police Department (Tri-City Medical Center) MAP

San Diego Police Department - Eastern Division (front lot) MAP

San Diego Police Department - Northwest Division MAP

San Diego Police Department - Western Division MAP

San Diego Sheriff's Department - Imperial Beach Station MAP

San Diego Sheriff's Department - Poway Patrol Station MAP

San Diego Sheriff's Department - San Marcos Office MAP

NOTE: if you are unable to take part in the Take Back Day, follow these guidelines for disposing of prescription drugs.

Photo: Getty Images