April 2, 2026

The City of Garden Grove Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will offer the public a safe way to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., helping prevent abuse and theft.

Anyone can bring unwanted pills for disposal to the Garden Grove Police Department, located at 11301 Acacia Parkway, Garden Grove, CA 92840. Garden Grove Police personnel will be stationed at the entrance of the police lobby with collection bins and information. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Please note the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, ONLY pills or patches.

In October 2025, Americans turned in 286 tons (over 570,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at over 4,317 sites operated by the DEA, in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies have shown that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 25 Take Back Day event, visit ggcity.org/events/takeback-march-2026.