Got Drugs? Cranberry Police Offer Drop-Off Site

On Saturday, the will become a drive-thru, but not like the kind you’re used to seeing at McDonald’s.

The department is participating in the nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring to collect unwanted, unused or expired over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The DEA project aims to prevent pill abuse and theft.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. a police officer and other volunteers will be stationed outside the rear of the township municipal building on Rochester Road with a bin to collect the medications. Lt. Kevin Meyer said residents can drive up and drop off their prescription bottles and tablets in the bin, no questions asked.

“They don’t even have to get out of the car,” he said.

This is the second time the township has participated in the program, which the DEA started last year. More than 3,000 law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in the program last year and collected about 120 tons of unwanted medications.

Meyer said Cranberry gathered 88 pounds of medication during last year’s drive.

“I think we’re going to surpass that this year,” he said.

Meyer said the department’s primary goal is to prevent prescription drug abuse. He noted that many people forget they have medications in their homes, which could lead to it falling into the wrong hands.

“It’s important to keep the medications out of the hands of the kids and out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them,” he said.

According to the DEA’s 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more Americans abuse prescription drugs than use cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined. Studies also showed that people who abuse prescription drugs often obtained them from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

“It can be very innocent. A lot of people hold on to them for years and years,” Meyer said of the prevalence of forgotten medicine in the home.

Many who do not know how to properly dispose of unused medicine also wind up flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are potential safety and health hazards. Sewage treatment plants are not designed to remove most pharmaceuticals, and flushed drugs enter waterways and ultimately into drinking water.

All medicine collected at Saturday's event will be turned over to the DEA for destruction. Police also ask participants to remove any personal information from medication bottles or packages before placing them in the disposal box. There is no charge for the disposal service.