Dormont Police Will Collect Unwanted, Unused Drugs on Saturday

Dormont Police Department is participating in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29,  at the Dormont Pool parking lot to provide a venue for residents who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration website. The last time Dormont police conducted the program with the DEA, they collected 54 pounds of drugs.

"We encourage people to bring your unused prescription items," Chief Richard Dwyer said, noting this is also a good way to get rid of medicines that are left when someone dies.

He said a volunteer pharmacist should be on hand to help weigh and classify the drugs, which will be disposed of by the DEA. Non-prescription medicines will also be accepted, Dwyer said.

The 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that more than 7 million Americans abuse prescription drugs.  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.

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

DEA, in conjunction with about 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States, participated in these events over the last year, 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 Obama signed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. 

Until that process is complete, however, DEA will continue to hold Take Back Days every six months.