Clear out your medicine cabinet during 'National Prescription Drug Take Back Day' | Health | northcentralpa.com

Harrisburg, Pa. — The next “National Drug Take Back Day,” sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will be held this Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents living throughout northcentral Pennsylvania are encouraged to participate by taking back expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Safe disposal drop-off locations are located in every county and can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Program’s website.

“Take Back Day is an excellent way to reduce drug abuse and misuse across the board,” Senator Gene Yaw said. “It’s not only about preventing people from stealing or abusing prescription drugs, but it’s also about preventing accidental use and overdose, especially by our senior population, and ensuring that unused drugs are disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 83 percent of adults 65 and older report they are currently taking prescription medicine and older adults are also more likely to be taking multiple prescription medications. This can lead to a higher rate of exposure to potentially addictive medications. The increased availability of prescription medication in the homes of older adults makes it vitally important to regularly clean out and dispose of old, unwanted, or unneeded prescription medication.

“An older adult’s prescription needs may change over time, resulting in either taking a different medication or stopping a particular one altogether. This could generate unused or unwanted prescriptions that remain in their home and potentially getting into the wrong hands, leading to misuse, developing a substance use disorder or lethal overdose,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “To protect both the older adults and the persons who may come across those prescriptions, we encourage everyone to consider the risks and to take proper action to discard those unused or unwanted medications.”

During the last National Take Back Day held in April 2024, Pennsylvania law enforcement collected over 31,000 pounds of unused or expired medication. Nationally, the DEA, along with its law enforcement partners, have collected over 18.5 million pounds (9,285 tons) of prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative in 2010.

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