‘Drug Take-Back Day’ targets prescription drug abuse

Time to clean out the cabinets of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The nation's Drug Enforcement Agency is sponsoring a "Drug Take-Back Day" on Saturday Sept. 29th.

This is the fifth time authorities have sponsored such an event to combat a growing prescription drug abuse, DEA officials said.

In April, 276 tons of medication was turned into the 5,659 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. More than 774 tons of medication has been collected from all the events, DEA officials said.

Locally, The Pennsylvania State Police are collecting drugs at the Media Barracks, in Delaware County, the Skippack Barracks in Montgomery County and the Avondale Barracks in Chester County. Many local police departments are also sponsoring a collection.

For more information on where to drop the drugs call 1-800-882-9539 or visit:

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-892-9149, mschaefer@phillynews.com or @MariSchaefer on Twitter.