Harrisburg , PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) and Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) are encouraging Pennsylvanians to take part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day initiative this Saturday, October 28.
The DEA has offered National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day since 2010 with the goal of fighting prescription drug misuse by creating convenient ways to dispose of medication that would otherwise be at risk of misuse in home medicine cabinets.
“Prescription Drug Take-Back Day offers a safe approach to medication disposal and helps to keep our loved ones and communities safe,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “I encourage Pennsylvanians to find the nearest take-back box and get rid of old, unused or unwanted prescription medications this Saturday.”
During the most recent National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in April 2023, the DEA collected more than 29,000 pounds of unused medication in Pennsylvania alone across nearly 260 collection sites.
In addition to the DEA’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, the Shapiro Administration offers a year-round opportunity to dispose of medication through Pennsylvania’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Program. As of September 30, more than 92,000 pounds of prescription medication has been collected and destroyed in Pennsylvania in 2023.
“If you are unable to participate on Saturday, there are hundreds of boxes throughout Pennsylvania to take advantage of DDAP’s take-back program year-round,” said Davis-Jones.
Since the inception of Pennsylvania’s drug take-back program in 2015, more than 1.2 million pounds of prescription medication have been destroyed across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
The DMVA’s Counterdrug Joint Task Force (CJTF) is operated by the Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) and is responsible for, along with narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s office, collecting and weighing discarded prescription drugs through Pennsylvania’s drug take-back program. In addition, the CJTF provides counterdrug support and training to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations, and educational and government organizations that request assistance at no cost to the agency supported. The PNG is part of the DMVA’s dual mission, which also includes supporting Pennsylvania’s more than 700,000 veterans.
“The DMVA is proud to once again partner with DDAP and the DEA to ensure safe transport and disposal of unwanted prescription medications with help from the Pennsylvania National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “On Saturday, by assuring unwanted prescription drugs don’t fall into the wrong hands, together we will play a big role in supporting the Shapiro Administration’s investment in safer communities for all Pennsylvanians.”
The Pennsylvania State Police aim to provide a safe and convenient means of disposal year-round by collecting unwanted prescription medications at 65 stations across the Commonwealth. No personal information is required, and drop-off boxes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More than 1,300 pounds of medications have been collected at PSP stations so far this year.
You can find one of Pennsylvania’s year-round drug take-back locations at ddap.pa.gov/drugtakeback.
For more information on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, including how to locate the box nearest you, visit takebackday.dea.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephany Dugan - ra-dapressoffice@pa.gov
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