By Mary O’KEEFE

Glendale Police are partnering with Glendale Fire and public Works departments to conduct a temporary prescription drug drop off in the city’s municipal parking lot at Honolulu Avenue and Wickham Way in Montrose on Saturday, Nov. 20.

“It will be a drive-thru and drop off for medication for the North Command area,” said Lt. Ian Grimes.

Glendale Police has divided the city into specific command areas. Montrose and North Glendale, which includes the Crescenta Valley area, are considered North Command.

Grimes said the drop off will give residents a safe and convenient way of disposing old and unneeded prescription medication.

Grimes added this program is an alternative to flushing the medication into the sewer system or throwing it away where they sit in a landfill both choices bad for the environment.

“It is also a way to get the temptation of the unused drugs out of the home where teenagers may have access,” Grimes added.

According to National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2008 1.9 million youth, or 7.7%, aged 12 to 17 abused prescription drugs, with 1.6 million abusing a prescription pain medication.

Grimes said having this drop off program will hopefully prompt residents to take a look into their medicine cabinets and clean house.

“This use of prescription drugs with teens is a big thing,” he said. “A lot of stuff comes out of the medicine cabinet.”

The city’s Environmental Management Center at 780 Flower St. in Glendale, 91201 has a drop off center every Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“But that may not be convenient for those in the North Command area,” Grimes added.

There is a drop off prescription drug drop off receptacle for La Crescenta residents at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station at 4554 Briggs Ave. At that location are two other mailbox type receptacles; one for used and unwanted hypodermic needles and one for marijuana.

  drugs, glendale