Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, encouraged Pennsylvanians to participate in the 20th Semi-Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, on April 24.

Residents can participate in the pharmaceutical “spring cleaning” by taking back expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to safe disposal drop-off locations in every county

Click Here to find a location near you courtesy of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.  Many of theses locations are open year-round.

During the October 2020 Take-Back Day event, 189 Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies collected 36,949 pounds of unused or expired medications from 209 collection sites across the state. 

Since the inception of the program on September 25, 2010, over 597,120 pounds of medications have been returned and destroyed in Pennsylvania.

“Take-Back Day is an excellent way to reduce drug abuse and misuse across the board,” Sen. Yaw said.  “It’s not only about preventing people from stealing or abusing prescription drugs, but it’s also about preventing accidental use and overdose, especially by our senior population.  Further, many people are unsure on how to properly dispose of the medications, so they flush them down the toilet or throw them in the garbage.  This can lead to the medications entering into our water supply, which is a huge environmental concern.”

To learn more, visit the DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day webpage or by calling 800-882-9539.

Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) serves as Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-3280 or sending email to: gyaw@pasen.gov.

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[Posted: April 23, 2021]

4/26/2021