Looking for a way to get rid of unwanted, expired or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications?
That opportunity is available on Saturday during the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take Back Day. The Allegheny County Police Department will once again participate.
The event offers citizens the chance to safely dispose of prescription drugs by giving them to law enforcement officers for destruction.
“The Take Back program has been a great way to keep prescription drugs, especially opioids, out of the wrong hands as well as help prevent accidental poisonings and stop the spread of addiction in our communities,” said Superintendent Coleman McDonough. “By making prescription drugs more difficult to access, we also limit the possibility that those same medications are misused or abused. The County Police are proud to participate in the program each year.”
Any over-the-counter, controlled substance or prescription-required drugs can be submitted. Tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, and liquids will be accepted in its packaging, according to a county press release. Sharpies and syringes will not be accepted due to safety reasons. Participants will remain anonymous, and no questions or requests for identification will be made by law enforcement personnel to anyone submitting medications.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not part of this initiative.
During the most recent National Take Back Day, last October, 914,236 pounds of unwanted medicines were collected. Overall, the program has led to the collection of 10,838,950 pounds of unwanted medicines.
