Pharmaceutical Take Back Day

Pharmaceutical Take Back Day is a national event that is being held today, Saturday, Apr 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs may be turned in at collection sites across the country. Delinquency, controlled, non-controlled, and over-the-counter drugs will be collected for disposal. No requests for identification will be made by law enforcement officers at the collection sites.

It gives people an opportunity to safely dispose of potentially dangerous substances. More than 121 tons of pills were turned in nationwide during the first take-back initiative held in September 2010.

Many people may not be aware that older and unused medicines in homes can pose substantial public health, environmental and safety issues. The overall goal of this program is to prevent prescription abuse and reduce the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses.

Of the many collection events planned that day nationally, Erie is one of just 10 sites where data will be collected from the first 50 participants to learn why medications were unused.

Pennsylvania Sea Grant and LECOM School of Pharmacy will inventory drugs collected at the Erie City Hall site. They will use the information to create outreach materials for consumers and professional development materials for medical professionals to address the issue of unused drugs. Pennsylvania Sea Grant is also planning another collection event this fall.

But collection events are not along-term solution. Until better, long-term methods of disposal are available call your state and federal representatives and ask them what they are doing to address this serious problem.

Collection Sites Near Erie, PA:

• City of Erie Bureau of Police, Erie Municipal Building front lobby (626 State St.)
• Pennsylvania State Police, Erie Barracks (4320 Iroquois Ave.)
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Greene Township Building.
• Edinboro Borough Police, (142 Meadville St., Edinboro)
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office, Harborcreek Township Building (5601 Buffalo Road.)
• Girard Borough Police, Girard Municipal Building (34 W.Main St., Girard.)
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office,Waterford Township Building (12451 Circuit St., Waterford)
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office,North East Township Building (10300 West Main Road, North East)