DELCO Officials Partner to host ‘TAKE-BACK’ Drug Event

Residents urged to dispose of unwanted, potentially dangerous prescription drugs 

District Attorney John J. Whelan will join Delaware County Council Chairman Thomas J. McGarrigle to announce Delaware County law enforcement’s participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take-Back Day Initiative during Delaware County Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.  


Chairman McGarrigle and DA Whelan will be joined by County Senior Medical Advisor Dr. George Avetian, members of the Intercommunity Health Department and the Office of Behavioral Health, along with several representatives from the law enforcement community. 

The “Take-Back” initiative is a nationwide campaign that aims to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and properly dispose of them. The program is free, anonymous and will take place on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 16 collection sites throughout Delaware County.

Each year, Delaware County Council and DA Whelan partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), County municipalities and County police departments to give local residents a safe place to dispose of their unused, unwanted and outdated prescription medications.  
“Many residents do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both potential safety and health hazards,” said County Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle. “The prescription drugs from the event will be safely collected and burned at an undisclosed location by DEA officials.”

According to officials, those who participate in this event will also help reduce the supply of prescription drugs available to those who might otherwise try to steal, abuse or sell them. “The ‘Take-Back’ initiative addresses a vital public safety issue,” said District Attorney Jack Whelan. “Many people are not aware that medicines that sit in home cabinets are at a high risk for misuse and abuse. Prescription drugs can be just as deadly as common street drugs.”

The first “Take-Back” event was held in September, 2010. According to DEA records, Delaware County collected 277.4 pounds of drugs. The second “Take-Back” event was held in April, 2011 and collected over 900 pounds of drugs. Nationwide, 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies participated in these events, collecting and destroying more than 309 tons of pills.  

At the “Take-Back” event, collection sites will anonymously accept both prescription and over-the-counter products that are solid in nature (tablets or capsules) with no questions asked. However, any intravenous solutions, injectables, needles, or illegal substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine will not be accepted. This effort is specifically for prescription and over-the-counter medications only.
Participating “Take-Back” sites in Delaware County on Saturday, September 29, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. include:

• Aldan Municipal Building: 1 West Providence Road, Aldan, PA 
• Brookhaven Municipal Center: 2 Cambridge Road, Ste 200, Brookhaven, PA 
• Chester Police Department: 160 E. 7th Street, Chester, PA
• Eddystone Police Department/Lighthouse Hall: 1401 E. 9th Street, Crum Lynne, PA 
• Glenolden Police Department: 38 Boon Avenue, Glenolden, PA 
• Marcus Hook Community Center: 7 W. Delaware Avenue, Marcus Hook, PA 
• Marple Township: Giant Food Store, 2910 Springfield Road, Broomall, PA 
• Media Borough Police Department: 301 N Jackson Street, Media PA 
• PA State Police Barracks: 1342 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA
• Nether Providence Police Station: 214 Sykes Lane, Wallingford, PA 
• Radnor Township Municipal Building: 301 Iven Avenue, Radnor, PA
• Sharon Hill Police Department: 1110 Spring Street, Sharon Hill, PA 
• Springfield Township Building: 50 Powell Road, Springfield, PA 
• Tinicum Township Police Department: 629 North Gov. Printz Blvd., Essington, PA 
• Upper Chichester Police Department: 8400 Furey Road, Upper Chichester, PA
• Upper Darby High School: 601 Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 

For more information about the nationwide “Take-Back” event visit www.dea.gov. Information is also available on the County website at www.co.delaware.pa.us.