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Delaware County Officials partner
to host Fourth Take-Back Drug Event
Residents urged to dispose of unwanted, potentially dangerous prescription drugs
District Attorney John J. Whelan joined Delaware County Council to urge residents to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs during national Take-Back Day set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 16 locations throughout the county.
District Attorney Whelan and County Councilman Dave White announced Delaware County law enforcement’s participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national Take-Back Day initiative at the Sept. 19 Delaware County Council meeting in Media.
Councilman White and DA Whelan were joined by County Senior Medical Advisor Dr. George Avetian, members of the Intercommunity Health Department and the Office of Behavioral Health, along with several representatives from the law enforcement community.
The Take-Back initiative is a nationwide campaign that aims to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and properly dispose of them. The program is free, anonymous and will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 29 at 16 collection sites.
Each year, Delaware County Council and the district attorney partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), County municipalities and County police departments to give local residents a safe place to dispose of their unused, unwanted and outdated prescription medications. One goal of the initiative is that these drugs don’t fall into the wrong hands.
“Many residents do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both potential safety and health hazards,” said Councilman White. “The prescription drugs from the event will be safely collected and burned at an undisclosed location by DEA officials.”
According to officials, those who participate in this event will help reduce the supply of prescription drugs available to those who might otherwise try to steal, abuse or sell them.
“The Take-Back initiative addresses a vital public safety issue,” said DA Whelan. “Many people are not aware that medicines that sit in home cabinets are at a high risk for misuse and abuse. Prescription drugs can be just as deadly as common street drugs.”
The first Take Back event was held in September, 2010. According to DEA records, Delaware County collected 277.4 pounds of drugs. The second “Take Back” event was held in April, 2011, and collected over 900 pounds of drugs. Nationwide, 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies participated in these events, collecting and destroying 309 tons of pills.
At the Take-Back event, collection sites will anonymously accept both prescription and over-the-counter products that are solid in nature (tablets or capsules) with no questions asked. However, any intravenous solutions, injectables, needles, or illegal substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will not be accepted. This effort is specifically for prescription and over-the-counter medications only.
Take-Back sites in Delaware County that will accept prescription drugs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, include:
Aldan Municipal Building: 1 West Providence Road, Aldan
Brookhaven Municipal Center: 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven
Chester Police Department: 160 E. 7th St., Chester
Eddystone Police Department/Lighthouse Hall: 1401 E. 9th St., Crum Lynne
Glenolden Police Department: 38 Boon Ave., Glenolden
Marcus Hook Community Center: 7 W. Delaware Ave., Marcus Hook
Marple Township: Giant, 2910 Springfield Road, Broomall
Media Borough Police Department: 301 N. Jackson St., Media
PA State Police Barricks: 1342 W. Baltimore Pike, Middletown
Nether Providence Police Station: 214 Sykes Lane, Wallingford
Radnor Township Municipal Building: 301 Iven Avenue, Radnor PA
Sharon Hill Police Department: 1110 Spring Street, Sharon Hill
Springfield Township Building: 50 Powell Road, Springfield
Tinicum Township Police Department: 629 North Gov. Printz Blvd., Essington
Upper Chichester Police Department: 8400 Furey Road, Upper Chichester
Upper Darby High School: 601 Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill
For more information about the nationwide Take-Back event visit www.dea.gov Information is also available on the County website at www.co.delaware.pa.us
