State Police to Accept Expired, Unwanted Prescription Medications

Oct. 29 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania State Police will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs this Saturday, Oct. 29, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

“The purpose of ‘Drug Take Back Day’ is to raise awareness of the problem with prescription-drug abuse and give consumers an opportunity to safely discard of unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said, noting that the effort helps to keep controlled substances from falling into the wrong hands.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., unwanted prescription medications may be dropped off at select State Police barracks. No personal information is required for drop-off. To find a drop-off location, visit www.psp.state.pa.us and click on the “Public Services’’ link on the left navigation menu.

Noonan said the program, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a 2009 national survey.

Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets.

“Because of the great success with the first two National Prescription Take Back Days, the DEA has asked us to partner with them again on this national one-day effort,” Noonan said.

During the second Take Back Day last April, in just Pennsylvania and Delaware alone, more than 12 tons of unused and unwanted pharmaceutical drugs were collected and kept from misuse.