By Mary O’KEEFE

A year ago the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began its “Safe Drug Drop-off” program. Mailbox-like receptacles were first placed at the Lomita Station where residents could drop off prescription drugs, hypodermic needles and illegal drugs – no questions asked.
The program has expanded
to 20 stations including the Crescenta Valley Station. The drop-off program has been in place for almost 10
months and has been used by the
community.
“This allows the community a safe place to drop off prescription drugs,” said Capt. Dave Silversparre at the time the receptacles were placed.
By March 2010, 4,605 hypodermic needles and 166.72 pounds of medication had been dropped off at the station’s receptacles.
This not only gives residents a safe place to dispose of their needles and old prescriptions but also helps the environment. Many times people would simply flush their old medication down the toilet. This creates environmental issues for water treatment plants that are not equipped to remove or destroy the pharmaceuticals from the water.
Residents are encouraged to use the Safe Drug Drop-off program at the
station, 4554 Briggs Ave., La Crescenta.