It’s time to clean out the medicine cabinet and get rid of potentially dangerous controlled substances by bringing them to the National Drug Take Back on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10am – 2pm. The Allentown Health Bureau and the Allentown Police Department, working in partnership with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, will participate in the 6th National Take Back Day at two locations: Giant Supermarket at 3015 W. Emmaus Ave. and Walgreens Pharmacy at 1702 Tilghman Street both from 10am to 2pm.

Expired, unused and unwanted medications, liquid products, creams in containers and pet medications will be accepted. Syringes with needles and lancets will not be accepted. This service is free; no identification is necessary and no questions will be asked.

“Prescription drug – related deaths and hospitalizations are rising locally as well as in Pennsylvania and the United States,” according to Vicky Kistler, Director of the Allentown Health Bureau. “Drug poisoning accounts for more than 90 percent of all poisoning deaths in the Commonwealth and cleaning out your medicine cabinets of unneeded medication helps to prevent medication errors, accidental overdose and misuse,” she added.

Drug Take Backs address a vital public safety and public health issue. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, citizens are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.

“Drug Take Backs are an effective way to dispose of unneeded medication in an environmentally safe way and can save lives.” said Kistler.
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