The Pennsylvania State Police, the PA Resources Council and other groups will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs on September 29, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

"Because of the great success with the first four National Prescription Take Back Days, the DEA has asked us to partner with them again on this national one-day effort," said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., unwanted prescription medications may be dropped off at select state police barracks. No personal information is required for drop-off.

"The DEA sponsors this national event so prescription drugs, especially those left wasting away in medicine cabinets, are more likely to be misused or abused," Noonan said, noting that prescription drug abuse by teens continue to be on the increase.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day last April resulted in people across the United States turning in a record-breaking 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications for disposal. The Pennsylvania State Police alone collected more than 3,500 pounds of unused and unwanted pharmaceutical drugs for safe and proper disposal. 

A list of State Police drop off locations is available online.  A list of PA Resources Council drop off sites in Western PA is also available.

NewsClip: State Police To Hold Prescription Drug Take Back Day

9/24/2012