Montco sets up 10 drug collection sites

Mari A. Schaefer, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Posted: Friday, April 5, 2013, 9:06 AM

Montgomery County officials are taking an extra step to combat drug addiction, establishing 10 permanent locations to drop off unused prescription medications.

Drug addiction can begin in the home where supplies of powerful narcotics are left unattended in medicine cabinets, official say. It gives minors easy access to steal the unused medications and turn underage drinking parties into "pharm parties."

A nationwide program "Got Drugs," sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency, holds two yearly drug collection days for the public to turn in unused prescriptions drugs.

In 2010, more than 513 pounds of medications such as Oxycodone, Percocet, Fentanyl and Hydrocodone, were surrendered in Montgomery County during the annual "Medicine Collection Event," That program was held at four locations in the county.

The pill collection sites also serve another purpose, encouraging people not to dispose of drugs by flushing them down the toilet. Elevated levels of some chemicals in waterways have been linked the practice.

The permanent locations are at the Montgomery County Courthouse and police departments in Abington, Franconia, Hatfield, Limerick, Lower Merion, Pottstown, Souderton, Upper Merion.

Contact staff writer Mari A. Schaefer at 610-313-8111, mschaefer@phillynews.com or @MariSchaefer on Twitter.

Mari A. Schaefer INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

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Comments (3)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:08 AM, 04/05/2013

Probably going ship them to CVS so they can sort through and redistribute them in their prescriptions. They are charging employees $600 a year to work there, so I wouldn't be surprised. Keep your drugs. Ignore that shelf life note. They last much longer and God forbid you lose your job and get sick you'll wish you kept those Xanax, Z-Pack, Ambien and Adderall. Trust me.

— MS. LOU.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:48 AM, 04/05/2013

Actually it's doped up American urine that has the waterway levels up, not people dumping hundreds of dollars worth of meds down toilets. Doesn't anyone in law enforcement have an IQ about 70?

— TrollXterminator

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:51 PM, 04/05/2013

It's nice that these sites are permanent. Certainly better for the environment, provided that the collected drugs are disposed of properly and in accordance with Federal and State laws.

— RKG