State Police: Unwanted Prescription Drugs to Be Collected April 30

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs may be turned in at collection sites across the state on Saturday, April 30, as part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

Organized by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter drugs will be collected for disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No requests for identification will be made by law enforcement officers at the collection sites.

"This service is free and completely anonymous," PSP Commissioner Frank Noonan said today. "It gives Pennsylvania residents an opportunity to safely dispose of potentially dangerous substances. More than 121 tons of pills were turned in nationwide during the first take-back initiative held in September 2010."

"Many Pennsylvanians may not be aware that older and unused medicines in homes can pose substantial public health, environmental and safety issues," said PCCD Chairman Mark Zimmer. "The overall goal of this program is to prevent prescription abuse and reduce the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses."

This is the second year for the take-back program, an initiative of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

Noonan said those who are unable to take advantage of the program on April 30 should check with their local municipality or local recycling service for similar programs. Information also is available on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at www.fda.gov.

For more information, visit www.psp.state.pa.us or www.pccd.state.pa.us.

Media contacts:

Lt. Myra A. Taylor or Jack J. Lewis, PSP; 717-783-5556

Tara Mead, PCCD; 717-265-8470

Editor's Note: The following is a list, by county, of collection points offered by state police:

• Armstrong:  PSP Kittanning, 184 Nolte Drive, Kittanning
• Beaver:  PSP Beaver, 1400 Brighton Road, Beaver
• Bedford:  Bedford Walmart, 72 Bedford Square, Everett
• Berks:  PSP Reading, 600 Kenhorst Blvd., Reading
• Berks:  PSP Hamburg, 90 Industrial Drive, Hamburg
• Blair:  PSP Hollidaysburg, 1510 North Juniata St., Hollidaysburg
• Butler:  PSP Butler, 200 Barracks Road, Butler
• Cambria:  Johnstown Galleria, 500 Galleria Drive, Johnstown
• Cameron:  PSP Emporium, 12921 Rt. 120, Emporium
• Carbon:  PSP Hazleton, 250 Dessen Drive, West Hazleton
• Centre:  PSP Rockview, 745 South Eagle Valley Road, Bellefonte
• Centre:  Phillipsburg Weis Store, 510 N. Centre St., Phillipsburg
• Chester:  PSP Avondale, 2 Moxley Lane, Avondale
• Clinton:  PSP Lamar, 7127 Nittany Valley Drive, Mill Hall
• Delaware:  PSP Media, 1342 W. Baltimore Pike, Media
• Erie:  PSP Erie, 4320 Iroquois Ave., Erie
• Fulton:  District Court, 214 N. Second St., McConnellsburg
• Huntingdon:  PSP Huntingdon, 10637 Raystown Road, Huntingdon
• Jefferson:  PSP Dubois, 101 Preston Way, Falls Creek
• Juniata:  PSP Lewistown, 34 Arch Rock Road, Mifflintown
• Lackawanna:  PSP Dunmore, 85 Keystone Industrial Park, Dunmore
• Lawrence:  PSP New Castle, 3539 Wilmington Road, New Castle
• Lebanon:  PSP Jonestown, 2632 SR 72, Jonestown
• Lehigh:  PSP Bethlehem, 2930 Airport Road, Bethlehem
• Lycoming:  PSP Montoursville, 899 Cherry St., Montoursville
• Mercer:  PSP Mercer, 826 Franklin Road, Mercer
• Mifflin:  PSP Lewistown, 34 Arch Rock Road, Mifflintown
• Montgomery:  PSP Skippack, 2047-C Bridge Road, Schwenksville
• Montour:  PSP Milton, 50 Lawton Lane, Milton
• Northumberland:  PSP Milton, 50 Lawton Lane, Milton
• Northumberland:  PSP Stonington, 2465 Rt. 61, Sunbury
• Pike:  PSP Blooming Grove, 434 Rt. 402, Hawley
• Potter:  PSP Coudersport, 3140 E. Second St., Coudersport
• Schuylkill:  PSP Frackville, 31 Eleanor Ave., Frackville
• Schuylkill:  PSP Schuylkill Haven, 23 Meadowbrook Drive, Schuylkill Haven
• Snyder:  PSP Selinsgrove, 204 Universal Road, Selinsgrove
• Susquehanna:  PSP Gibson, 2856 Rt. 848, New Milford
• Tioga:  PSP Mansfield, 1745 Valley Road, Mansfield
• Venango:  PSP Franklin, 6724 Rt. 322, Franklin
• Washington:  PSP Washington, 83 Murtland Ave., Washington
• Wayne:  PSP Honesdale, 14 Collan Park, Honesdale
• Westmoreland:  Rite Aid Pharmacy, 222 Y St., Derry
• York:  Giant Food Store, 801 Baltimore St., Hanover

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department