Chester Participates in National Take Back Day

City joins partners to collect potentially dangerous prescription drugs for destruction

Chester, PA – As part of a national effort, the City of Chester is partnering with community, public health and law enforcement partners to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at City Hall, 1 Fourth Street, Chester, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, September 25, from 10 am to 2 pm. 

Many are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. has increased at an alarming rate, as have the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to the misuse of these drugs. 

“The National Take-Back campaign provides a safe and anonymous way for Chester residents to dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs,” said Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr. “These drugs are often out of date and forgotten, and can be just as dangerous and deadly as those illegally sold by drug dealers on the street corners if misused.”

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  In addition, many 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. 

As part of this first ever state and nationwide anonymous program, the Drug Enforcement Administration has registered over 280 sites throughout Pennsylvania and Delaware that will join the effort that seeks to prevent the abuse and theft of prescription drugs left in our nation’s medicine cabinets.   The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.  For more information, residents can visit www.nationaltakebackday.com.