YORK, Pa. — Note: The video is from October 2023.
York County law enforcement and addiction prevention organizations are participating in a National Medication Take Back Initiative this weekend at four locations across the county.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, the public will have the opportunity to rid their homes of expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-count medications. The effort is a collaboration between the York Opioid Collaborative, the York County District Attorney’s Office, Springettsbury Township Police, Fairview Township Police and York College Campus Safety Police.
The medications will be collected at:
- Crossroads Middle School, 535 Fishing Creek Rd Lewisberry, PA 17339
- Springettsbury Township Building, 1501 Mt. Zion Rd York, PA 17402
- Minnich’s Pharmacy, 976 S George St York, PA 17403
- Delta-Cardiff VFC, 500 Main St Delta, PA 17314
The Drug Enforcement Administration will accept any over the counter, controlled substance or prescription required drugs. Tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids will be accepted in its packaging. There is no need to take medicines out of the original package or container. The public can submit it as is, no need to separate pills or medication in any form. Sharps and syringes will not be accepted due to safety reasons.
During the last take-back day, the DEA collected over 300 tons of prescription medications across 4,675 collection sites in the United States. In Pennsylvania, 208 law enforcement agencies participated in the October 2023 Take Back Day and collected 30,321 lbs of unused/expired medications.
Since its inception, over 8,950 tons of medications have been collected across the United States.
"This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue," York County officials said. "Medicines that languish in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and accidental exposure. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. remain high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of misused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet."
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, go to the https://takebackday.dea.gov/