Aug 31, 2015 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – A new prescription drug “drop box” installed last week at the Cumberland Township Police Department will allow people to dispose of their unused pills year-round.

Cumberland Township police Chief Craig Miller announced the addition of the drop box inside the department’s lobby ahead of the bi-annual DEA drug take-back program scheduled later this month in Carmichaels.

Miller said the box – which is secure and looks similar to a mailbox -will be more convenient for people who want to remove unused or expired prescription drugs from their house. He said the program is a good alternative to people flushing the drugs down their toilet or leaving them in a medicine cabinet where they can fall into the hands of someone without the prescription.

The Greene County district attorney’s office helped the department secure a grant for the box.

“It’s convenient to have a place where people can drop it off,” Miller said. “People don’t want it sitting around their house for six months waiting to dispose of it.”

Previously, the department worked in conjunction with DEA on the bi-annual take-back program. Miller said although that program was successful – the department collected 30 pounds of prescription meds last year – the dates were so far in between he wonders how many more people might participate now that the drop box is in place.

“Our thinking is that we’ve done pretty good, but the problem is it’s once every six months,” he said. “People might be busy at work or can’t get there.”

That take-back program will return Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carmichaels Borough Building.

Miller said officers are asking no liquids or needles be brought for disposal at the take back or drop box. He added people can remain anonymous and the program encourages anyone with prescriptions to remove identification from the pill bottles.

The drop box is located inside the lobby of the police department located at 100 Municipal Road. An officer is on-duty 24 hours a day, Miller said, so someone should be able to assist anyone who needs to enter the lobby during non-business hours.

A similar drop box is located in the basement entrance to Greene County Courthouse.