LCDA

The Lehigh County District Attorney has announced the 12th National Take Back Day drug collection event scheduled 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 22.

Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 11 sites in Lehigh County including the Emmaus and Salisbury Township police departments.

County residents can dispose of capsules, pills, including pet medications and liquids.

Syringes or sharps will not be accepted.

Residents who dispose of medications will remain anonymous and no questions will be asked.

The event is being coordinated by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, area police departments, the Allentown Health Bureau, Pennsylvania State Police and the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration.

Since the first Take Back Day in 2010, 10,104 pounds of medications have been collected in Lehigh County. In addition, a total of 9,969 pounds of medications have been collected from the permanent medication collection boxes installed in 12 police departments; Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township; Lehigh Valley Hospital, 17th and Chew streets, Allentown; Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg, Bethlehem; and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. In all, 20,073 pounds of drugs have been collected.

Collection sites are listed below, but computer users also can visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov and click on “Got Drugs” on the left to find convenient locations. Users can click on “search for a collection site near you” and then enter their zip code.

If residents can’t dispose of their medications during the October 2016 Take Back Day, they can deposit unused drugs in year-round collection boxes.

The police departments with year-round collection boxes include the Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St. and the Salisbury Township Police Department, 3000 S. Pike Ave.

To check the hours and days of operation at those sites, call the police departments or visit the www.lehighcounty.org website and the District Attorney’s Office pages. Click on the link on the left titled, “Permanent Medication Collection Box List of Sites.”

According to law enforcement authorities, some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the country are painkillers containing hydrocodone, such as Vicodin and Percocet; oxycodone, such as Oxycontin; anti-depressants, such as Lorazepam (Ativan) and Alprazolam (Xanax); and stimulant prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Aderall.

DEA personnel take the drugs to an incinerator where they are burned.

Medications will be collected at the following locations on Oct. 22

• South Mall (Central Court), 3300 Lehigh St., Salisbury Township. Salisbury Township police will collect medications;

• Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, Camp Olympic, 3120 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Lower Macungie Township

• Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St.