Participants ready for ‘Drug Take-Back Day’
It’s not a national holiday, but it’s a day that is appreciated by many.
Police departments throughout Washington, Greene and Allegheny counties will participate in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Sept. 12, when people can take unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Monongahela Valley Hospital also will participate.
Needles and epinephrine pens will not be accepted.
From 2010 through 2014, the program, sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, collected nearly 5 million pounds of drugs. Washington County alone collected more than 6,000 pounds.
“It’s a fantastic program,” Peters Township Chief Harry Fruecht said. “It really gives people the chance to get rid of drugs lying around.”
From April 2014 to Aug. 4, Peters police have collected 780 pounds of unwanted medication, Fruecht said.
“It’s a win for everyone,” he said.
Collected prescriptions are turned over to the DEA for proper disposal. Residents are encouraged to remove personal information from tubes and bottles before dropping them off.
Canonsburg Police Chief Alex Coghill said residents should avoid flushing prescriptions down the toilet because the drugs will eventually end up in the water system. “This is just one way of keeping (drugs) off the streets,” Coghill said of the program. “Heroin addiction (can) begin in the home. We want to get the dangerous drugs before they become a problem.”
Prescriptions will be taken with “no questions asked,” Coghill said.
Canonsburg, like other departments throughout the county, has a permanent drug collection box. Department collection boxes are accessible during office hours.
North Strabane Police Chief Brian Hughes encourages everyone to take advantage of the program.
“It removes any temptation,” he said.
Mary Kaufman, communications specialist for Monongahela Valley Hospital, said in an email the facility could be the only hospital in Southwestern Pennsylvania to participate.
For a complete list of participating police departments and locations, visit www.dea.org.