The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26. This event encourages residents to dispose of unwanted, unneeded, or expired medications safely. In Pennsylvania, Penn State Health will participate by collecting medications, needles, and syringes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various drive-through locations, including Bern Township, Derry Township, East Pennsboro, East Hempfield, Elizabethtown Borough, Lower Paxton, and North Londonderry Township, as noted by Penn State Health News.
The DEA's initiative aims to combat the drug overdose epidemic by encouraging the public to remove potentially harmful medications from their homes. According to the DEA, the previous Take Back Day collected over 670,000 pounds of prescription drugs nationwide, highlighting the community's commitment to safety and health.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Penn State Health's participation in the event, which has collected over 6,000 pounds of medications and 270 large sharps containers since its inception. Deborah Addo, interim CEO of Penn State Health, emphasized the importance of these events in keeping communities safe.
For those interested in participating, additional details and locations can be found on the Penn State Health website.