The Office of Attorney General has joined the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement officials from across the state in support of the fifth Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said the program, scheduled for April 27, is an effort to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for proper disposal and destruction. The service is free and anonymous.

The last National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day was held on September 29, 2012. On that day, law enforcement agencies in all 50 states collected more than 488,000 pounds - 244 tons - of prescription medications.

Kane said that continuing national initiatives to collect expired or unwanted prescription drugs provide opportunities for those who may have missed previous events or who may have accumulated additional prescriptions to dispose of them safely.

Prescription drug abuse in the United States is increasing at an alarming rate. In the past few years the Attorney General's Office has arrested hundreds of individuals involved with abusing or selling prescription drugs. Many of those arrested included doctors, nurses or medical professionals.

A common misconception with prescription drug disposal is that it is safe to flush unwanted medicine down the toilet or simply throw them away. However, the options pose potential health and safety hazards.

The Attorney General’s Office encourages participation in this safe, legal and environmentally friendly way of disposing prescription medications.

Collection sites will be available across Pennsylvania on April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A complete list of local sites is available online.

4/15/2013