Residents Clear Medicine Cabinets Of 10,000 Pounds Of Unused Drugs

Bucks Countians turned in nearly 10,000 pounds of unused medications and more than 1,200 pounds of sharps from their homes during a disposal event last month.

The Saturday, April 25, collection was part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. There were 48 collection sites across the county.

Local law enforcement and community organizations worked to gather 9,949 pounds of medication and 1,202.91 pounds of sharps, according to the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission.

Since the program launched in 2010, the county has collected and destroyed a total of 263,370.38 pounds of medication.

“We’ve got them out of circulation and had them destroyed,” County Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said. “We’ve taken those out of the medicine cabinets, taken them out of the homes, taken them out of a lot of different places where people couldn’t get their hands, especially on the addictive medications and the opiate couldn’t get their hands, especially young people who might be tempted to use those drugs.”

Officials said that proper disposal is a key factor in preventing accidental poisonings and the misuse of prescription drugs.

As part of efforts to combat the opioid crisis, six of the collection sites provided free naloxone nasal spray, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.

Residents who missed the event can still access year-round, anonymous disposal through 45 permanent drop-boxes located at police stations and hospitals throughout the county. There is more on the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission website.

Officials also released a set of safety reminders for the community:

Store safely: Keep all medications in a secure, cool, and dry location.

Follow instructions: Use medications strictly as prescribed by a physician.

Never share: Prescription medications are personalized and should never be shared.

Dispose properly: Avoid flushing or trashing medications; instead, use certified drop boxes or official take-back events.

Bucks County residents can obtain naloxone at no cost by calling 215-444-2700, emailing bcdac@buckscounty.org, or visiting bcdac.org.