On Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
the Pennsylvania State Police, Media barracks and the Drug Enforcement
Administration will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse
and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and
unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to PSP Media
at 1342 W. Baltimore Pike, Media. The service is free and anonymous, no
questions asked.
This
initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home
cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. 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 a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained
from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised
that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down
the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health
hazards.
The following
protocols will be in effect:
• Participants will remove any personal information
from bottles or packages that contain pills/capsules and liquids and place the
bottles or packages into the disposal box.
• Controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter medications will be
collected.
• Liquid products and creams in its containers will be accepted.
• Sharpies and syringes will not be accepted due to the potential hazard posed
by blood-borne pathogens.
