SANATOGA PA – “Slow, but steady.” That’s how Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township police officers characterized the turnout as people deposited unwanted and expired prescription drugs into a box designated for the purpose during Saturday’s (Sept. 25, 2010) “National Take-Back Initiative” to keep such medications out of the hands of potential abusers.
Lower Pottsgrove police officers, right, distribute literature as part of Saturday's drug take-back effort outside the township municipal building on Buchert Road.
Lower Pottsgrove’s department and six other area law enforcement agencies were among those participating in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) campaign to accept drugs for free, safe and legal disposal. They were due to be incinerated once collected.
A tall cardboard container adorned by the collection effort’s red, white and blue poster was the focal point of an awning-shaded area set up outside the police station’s door at the municipal building, 2199 Buchert Rd., Pottstown PA. Although they initially wondered how many, if any, local residents would appear to drop off medications, officers at the site said they were pleasantly surprised by the response.
It was that way, too, across much of the nation. More than 3,400 locations were involved in the take-back initiative. Collectively they accounted for tens of tons of pills, creams, syrups, liquids, lotions and capsules, almost all of them containing pharmaceutical substances.
In Houston TX, the Chronicle newspaper reported Sunday (Sept. 26), that city’s 17 sites accumulated 3,000 pounds of drugs for disposal. Compare those numbers to tiny Anderson IN, where that city’s Herald Bulletin newspaper said only eight people rid themselves of a small pile of meds they had no further use for.
The volume didn’t matter, DEA representatives told the media; getting drugs off the streets did. “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,” according to agency studies.
Participating departments promised they wouldn’t ask where the drugs came from or who was dropping them off. The ability to remain anonymous seemed to help, according to law enforcement officers.
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Perhaps this disposal method might be a continued thing considering the alternative of flushing pills down toilets and the subsequent contamination of sewer and waterways.
Would like to know how they disposed of the turn ins.
This is an ongoing issue and a long term solution would be beneficial to the community at large.
Ed, I’m told the drugs that were turned in were incinerated at a federally approved disposal facility. I think you can expect to see more of these efforts in the future. You’re right; there’s a need out there.