The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and once again Garden Spot Village and the New Holland Police Department are partnering to bring the initiative to New Holland.
Residents of New Holland and surrounding areas can safely dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription drugs and other medications on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Garden Spot Village.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of these medications.
According to the DEA, “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both potential safety and health hazards.”
The DEA also said, “In keeping with our core value of stewardship, we are happy to work with the New Holland Police Department once again to offer the community an opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets safely, thereby helping reduce the risk of drug abuse and poisonings or accidental overdose.”
In the nine national Take-Back events from 2010 through 2014, the DEA collected more than 4.8 million pounds, or 2,411 tons, of drugs. Garden Spot Village and the New Holland Police Department brought the program to New Holland in April 2011.
Garden Spot Village is located at 433 South Kinzer Avenue in New Holland. The collection site will be at the Village Square Entrance No. 1. The site will accept pills, capsules, creams and liquids, but no syringes or “sharps.” A law enforcement officer will be present during the collection.
The event is free and completely anonymous. Participants may remove personal information from drug bottles or packages.
For more information, call 717-355-6000 or email info@gardenspotvillage.org.
