SMPD hosts free drug take-back event Saturday

The Santa Monica Police Department will collect unwanted and expired prescription medications for free on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Safety Facility, 333 Olympic Drive.

The collection is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Patch reported. The service is free and anonymous.

The event accepts tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription medications. Liquid medications, including cough syrup, must stay sealed in their original containers with caps tightened to prevent leaks. Syringes, needles and illicit drugs will not be accepted, according to the DEA.

The aim is to get unused pills out of medicine cabinets before they are accidentally ingested or misused.

DEA Administrator Terry Cole said the program has helped Americans remove millions of pounds of unneeded medications from their homes since 2010. "By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands …" Cole said in a statement.

Patch cited DEA collection figures showing Americans have turned in more than 21 million pounds of unwanted medications since the program launched. The DEA's own press release put the figure at more than 20 million pounds. During the April 2026 event alone, collection sites gathered 642,410 pounds of medication nationwide.

More than 4,400 collection sites across the country are expected to participate, working with more than 4,300 law enforcement partners, the DEA said. The national initiative runs twice a year.

Prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Removing unneeded medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion, the DEA said.

Residents who cannot make the Saturday event can search for other drop-off locations at DEATakeBack.com. The DEA also maintains a network of more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals and other locations that accept medications year-round. Many police departments provide permanent drop boxes for disposal outside of scheduled events.