Residents across the Pittsburgh region will be able to rid themselves of unwanted medication Saturday as several communities participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Events are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Locations include:
• Oakmont: Rite Aid, 109 Allegheny River Blvd.
• Aspinwall: Municipal office, 217 Commercial Ave.
• Shaler: Shaler North Hills Library, 1822 Mt. Royal Blvd.
• Millvale: Medicap Pharmacy, 225 Grant Ave.
• North Park: 700 West Ridge Drive, McCandless
• South Park: 1801 Brownsville Road
In its 22nd year, the program sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency gives people a chance to properly dispose of expired, unwanted or unused drugs — prescribed and over-the-counter.
In October’s take-back drive, 745,000 pounds of medicines were brought in at nearly 5,000 drop-off sites across the country. Since the program’s inception, more than 15.2 million pounds of medications have been collected.
Allegheny County Police will participate with collections at North Park and South Park.
Offered twice a year, the event is anonymous. No questions or identification is required.
Tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids will be accepted in packaging. Sharpies and syringes will not be accepted because of safety reasons.
Illicit drugs like marijuana or methamphetamine are not part of the initiative.
There are several sites, including hospitals and pharmacies, that serve as drop-off points for unwanted prescription medication year-round. In Harrison, both CVS Pharmacy along California Avenue and Allegheny Valley Hospital along Carlisle Street, have a constant collection available, according to the DEA.
The Giant Eagle pharmacy along Tarentum Bridge Road in New Kensington also takes unwanted medicine year-round.
