The collection event at the Target in Middletown.
Credit Erich Martin/NewtownPANow.com
Local police are teaming up with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and community groups to hold a prescription and over-the-counter drug take-back day this Saturday.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day drive happens this Saturday from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will take place at sites throughout the county, several in the Newtown area. The event is free and completely anonymous.
The event gives residents a chance to safely get ride of unwanted, unused or expired medications that otherwise may end up being used illegally or in the public water system.
“We want to encourage safe practices by reminding community members to keep medications in secure locations, to never share prescription medications since they are written specifically for the intended person, and to safely dispose of medications by participating in a safe disposal event or by using one of our year-round collection boxes located in police stations across Bucks County,” said Donna Foisy, project coordinator for Bucks Promise for Youth and Communities.
The last county-wide collection event netted 7,130 pounds of unused prescription medication.
Lambert Tolbert, prevention grants coordinator for the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, said prescription drugs abuse can lead to use of heroin.
Residents can go to any one of the locations in the county, no questions asked and drop off their medications to local police department sites where an officer and volunteers will be available.
- Newtown Fire Association, 14 Liberty Street, Newtown Borough
- Newtown Township Municipal Building, 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown
- Upper Makefield Police Department, 1076 Eagle Road, Upper Makefield
All drugs collected through the initiative are sent to the DEA and incinerated.
