POTTSTOWN PA – As parents of Pottsgrove High School students filled Rader Auditorium last night (Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010) during an annual back-to-school event, Principal Chris Shaffer warned that one of the greatest dangers their children faced was lurking in their family medicine cabinet. “Prescription drugs. Big, big problem,” Schaffer said, “and we want to make sure we’re talking to our kids about them.”

Abuse of drugs legally prescribed for others poses “an unacceptable risk to public health and safety,” the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agrees. “Rates of prescription drug abuse … are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority … are obtained from family and friends,” it reported last month.

That’s why the Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Police Department will join other law enforcement agencies across the country next Saturday (Sept. 25, 2010) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the “National Take-Back Initiative,” during which anyone can drop off unused or unwanted prescription medicines at the police station, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA, “with no questions asked,” Police Chief Michael Shade announced.

• This event has been added to The Post calendar.

Shade, who introduced the program last week during the Board of Commissioners’ meeting, urged public participation. The service is free, he noted, and anonymity is assured. Visitors will not be asked to identify themselves, what the drugs are, where they came from, or how they were obtained; in fact, Shade indicated, he’s not interested in any detail. His first concern, he told commissioners, was to keep the medicines away from potential abusers.

Other area agencies participating in the initiative and their drop-off sites, according to the DEA, include:

• New Hanover Township Police Department, Municipal Building, 2943 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville PA;
• Pennsylvania State Police, Skippack Barracks, 2047-C Bridge Rd., Schwenksville PA;
• Limerick Township Police Department, Manderach Park, 50 Ziegler Rd., Royersford PA;
• Lower Frederick Township Police, Municipal Building, 53 Spring Mount Rd., Zieglerville PA;
• Phoenixville Police Department, Borough Hall, 140 Church St., Phoenixville PA; and
• Upper Providence Township Police, Department Headquarters, 1286 Black Rock Rd., Oaks PA.

To find other collection sites by zip code or municipality searches, check here.

Prescription and over-the-counter, solid dosage medications such as tablets and capsules  will be accepted, but not intra-venous solutions, injectables, or needles. Also, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines are not a part of the initiative. Materials collected by the departments will be destroyed under controlled and secure conditions, the DEA said.

Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ meeting of Sept. 7):

• Lower Pottsgrove Police Will Take Back Prescription Drugs
• Green, Or Maybe Now Brown, Grass Still A Hause Ave. Problem
• Lower Pottsgrove Officer Chosen For FBI Academy
• Township Approves Planning Map Changes
• Commissioners OK Tax-Reduction District Research
• ‘Patient Investigator’ Township’s Officer Of The Year
• Lower Pottsgrove To PennDOT: Good Job, Guys
• Township Examines Tax-Break District Potential

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