Allegheny County Police Organizes Collection for Unwanted Prescription Drugs

Do you have unwanted  in your medicine cabinet? Are you wondering what to do with them?

You can take them to the from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The collection is part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. 

The police station is at 601 Thorn St. in Sewickley. Click here for other drop-off locations.

"More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health," states the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's website. 

"Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America," the release continues. 

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

DEA in conjunction with state and local  agencies throughout the United States conducted National Prescription Drug Take Back Days on Sept. 25, 2010, and April 25, 2011. 

Nearly, 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in these events, collecting more than 309 tons of pills.

Four days after last fall’s Take-Back Day, Congress passed legislation amending the Controlled Substances Act to allow the DEA to develop a process for people to safely dispose of their prescription drugs. 

DEA immediately began developing this process after President Barack Obama signed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 on Oct. 12. Until that process is complete, however, DEA will  to hold Take Back Days every six months.