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Ninth Drug Take Back Day Scheduled

09/15/2014
Ninth Drug Take Back Day Scheduled

Are there expired or unused prescription and over-the counter medicines in your home? Then bring them to the National Take Back Day drug collection event on Saturday, September 27.

The Allentown Health Bureau and the Allentown Police Department will collect medications as part of the 9th 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. The city agencies are participating in the program in partnership with the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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

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 those found in the home medicine cabinet. “Taking the simple step of cleaning out your medicine cabinet of old and unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines can significantly reduce the possibility of an accidental poisoning or intentional misuse by a family member,” said Acting Health Bureau Director Jeff Stout.

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.

An April 2014 Take Back Day brought-in more than 750 pounds of medications across Lehigh County. That brings the total to all collections across the county to more than 7,600 pounds since 2010.

Persons who are unable to attend the September 27 event are reminded that a permanent collection box has been installed at the Allentown Police Department’s Patrol Station at 10th & Hamilton streets. The Allentown location in the station lobby is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The one-way collection boxes are bolted to the floor to prohibit removal of the boxes and retrieval of medications from within the boxes without proper authorization.

The collected medications are burned in an approved incinerator. 

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