Since it began in 2010, Bucks County has been the state’s foremost participant in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and has collected more medication than any other Pennsylvania county.
On Saturday, April 22, Bucks County held its semi-annual combined medication and sharps collection and exceeded a major milestone – collecting more than 200,000 pounds of medication since National Prescription Drug Take Back Day began. Law enforcement officers collected unused and expired prescription medications for safe disposal at 48 locations throughout the county as part of Bucks County’s local observation of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
To date, 201,331.24 pounds of medications have been collected at public sites, senior housing centers, and homebound residencies in Bucks County. This is a collaborative effort, which authorities said cannot happen without the help of law enforcement. The efforts are led by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Bucks County Commissioners, Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc., and other organizations.
“Being No. 1 in the state in medication take-back shows that the citizens of Bucks County are dedicated to this cause,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “And reaching more than 200,000 pounds of collected medication since the inception of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is another example of our community’s commitment to keeping all of us safe.”
It is important to follow safe practices with all medications. This includes storing medications properly, taking medications only as prescribed, not sharing with others, and safely disposing of both prescribed and over-the-counter medications in local medication drop boxes.
“For nearly 13 years, Bucks County residents have responded to the plea to rid their homes of unused medications. Keeping medications in the home can lead to accidental drug overdose by children and adults, as well as contribute to substance use disorder, theft, and illegal distribution.
“We are grateful for the support of Bucks County Commissioners, the District Attorney, law enforcement and others. The true heroes here are everyday residents who often ask how they can help reduce substance use in our community, and they collected over 200,000 pounds of medications which will never harm anyone,” said Diane Rosati, BCDAC, Inc. executive director.
Bucks residents are asked to continue to practice safe medication storage and disposal year-round to make sure prescription or over the counter do not wind up in the wrong hands. Additionally, the life-saving medication, naloxone (or Narcan), which can help to reverse an opioid overdose, is available free of charge to any resident in Bucks County. Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. offers walk-in hours at its office as well as other distribution sites and mail-to-home programs available to residents.
For those who missed the collection event on April 22, free and anonymous medication disposal is available year-round via any of the 44 permanent drop boxes located in police stations and hospitals throughout Bucks County. In most locations, all medications will be accepted, including pills, capsules, ointments, liquids, nasal sprays, inhalers, and pet medications.
Needles and illicit drugs are not accepted. There are now five permanent sharps disposal boxes at area hospitals. For information, visit www.bcdac.org or call Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. at 215-444-2700.
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