National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 29. Three Allentown sites will offer events where people can safely dispose of all their expired or unused prescription and over-the counter medicines in secure collection boxes.

The Allentown Health Bureau and the Allentown Police Department are participating in the program in partnership with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Expired, unused and unwanted medications, including capsules, pills, liquid products, creams in containers and pet medications will be accepted – no questions asked, no ID necessary, and free of charge. Syringes with needles and other sharps will not be accepted.

These items can be taken to any of the National Take Back Day drug collection events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Allentown locations are APD Headquarters (425 W Hamilton); Walgreens (1702 Tilghman); and Wegmans (3900 Tilghman).

Other Drug Take Back locations in Lehigh County and surrounding areas can be found on the National Take Back site at https://www.dea.gov/takebackday.

Those unable to drop off medications on October 29, can still visit the permanent collection box in the lobby of Allentown Police Department Headquarters, which is accessible 24 hours a day seven days a week.

The one-way collection boxes are bolted to the floor to prohibit removal of the boxes and retrieval of medications from within the boxes without proper authorization. The collected medications are burned in an approved incinerator.

Drug Take Back programs address a vital public safety and public health issue.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

People are also advised that traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose potential safety and health hazards.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Genesis Ortega
Communications Manager
Office of the Mayor
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

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