Trash Old Drugs Oct 27 At Lower Merion Police Department

ARDMORE, PA – Lower Merion Police are joining other Montgomery County police departments and the District Attorney's Office for a drug take-back event in late October.

Numerous departments will host drug take-back days on Oct. 27 to safely dispose of old and unused medications.

Lower Merion Police will host the take-back day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 at the police department, 71 Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore.

Accepted drugs include prescription and over-the-counter tablets and capsules, liquid medications, inhalers, creams and ointments, nasal sprays, and pet medications. Prescription medicines can be in their original prescription bottles with the label removed or can be placed in zippered plastic bags.

Not accepted are intravenous solutions, injectable solutions and needles.

These old and unused medications can have varying negative impacts, ranging from environmental harm due to flushing to ending up in the hands of potential drug abusers when throwing them in the trash.

Disposing of these drugs safely is also a key measure in fighting the opioid epidemic.

The initiative is organized by the DA's office and the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County in conjunction with the DEA's nationwide take-back day.

Since the Take Back program began in 2010, more than 50,000 pounds of medicines have been collected and safely disposed of, the DA's office said.

The last two Take Back Days have continued to set new records. On April 28, 2018, 7,981 pounds were collected and on Oct. 28, 2017, 7,789.42 pounds were collected for a total of 15,770 pounds in one year.

"Each time we hold a Drug Take Back Day, we collect more and more medications, which means that people are getting the message that they need to get these unwanted medicines out of their homes and have them disposed of in a safe manner," Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele said. "Montgomery County residents are also becoming increasingly aware that there is a direct link between the over-prescription of opioids and the heroin-opioid epidemic. Hopefully, people are taking just what they need in terms of their prescription medicines and then disposing of the rest of the unwanted pills by dropping them off on a Take Back Day or at one of the more than 50 permanent boxes."

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office