Last Saturday, Bucks County held its semi-annual combined medication and sharps collection. Law enforcement officers collected unused and expired prescription medications for safe disposal at 48 locations throughout the county as part of Bucks County’s local observation of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Since it began in 2010, Bucks County has been the state’s foremost participant in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and has collected more medication than any other Pennsylvania county. This April, Bucks County surpassed a major milestone, collecting more than 200,000 lbs. To date, 201,331.24 pounds of medications have been collected at public sites, senior housing centers, and homebound residencies. This is truly a collaborative effort and cannot happen without the help of law enforcement. The efforts are led by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Bucks County Commissioners, Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc., and other organizations.
“Being No. 1 in the state in medication take back shows that the citizens of Bucks County are dedicated to this cause,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “And reaching more than 200,000 pounds of collected medication since the inception of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is another example of our community’s commitment to keeping all of us safe!”
It is important to follow safe practices with all medications. This includes storing medications properly, taking medications only as prescribed, not sharing with others, and safely disposing of both prescribed and over-the-counter medications in local medication drop boxes.
“For nearly thirteen years, Bucks County residents have responded to the plea to rid their homes of unused medications. Keeping medications in the home can lead to accidental drug overdose by children and adults, as well as contribute to substance use disorder, theft, and illegal distribution. We are grateful for the support of Bucks County Commissioners, the District Attorney, law enforcement and others. The true heroes here are everyday residents who often ask how they can help reduce substance use in our community, and they collected over 200,000 lbs. of medications which will never harm anyone” Diane Rosati, BCDAC, Inc. Executive Director.
We can all play a part in making sure that medications, whether prescription or over the counter do not wind up in the wrong hands. Please continue to practice safe medication storage and disposal year-round. Additionally, the life-saving medication, naloxone (or Narcan), which can help to reverse an opioid overdose, is available free of charge to any resident in Bucks County. Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. offers walk-in hours at their office as well as other distribution sites and mail-to-home programs available to residents.
For those who missed the collection event on April 22nd, free and anonymous medication disposal is available year-round via any of the 44 permanent drop boxes located in police stations and hospitals throughout Bucks County. In most locations, all medications will be accepted, including pills, capsules, ointments, liquids, nasal sprays, inhalers, and pet medications. Needles and illicit drugs are not accepted. There are now 5 permanent sharps disposal boxes at area hospitals. For more information, please visit www.bcdac.org or call Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. 215-444-2700.
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