MedReturn Box In Emporium

Emporium, PA— Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in Pennsylvania and District Attorney Paul Malizia, with the assistance of Emporium Borough Police Chief Matt Siple, with the cooperation of Emporium Borough Council are doing something about it by installing a secure medicine return box in the Emporium Borough Building that will allow people to dispose of unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medication safely and anonymously. Currently the Pennsylvania State Police offer drug drop-off programs only two times per year. The new Medreturn box will be available during all normal daytime hours to anyone who wishes to dispose of outdated or unused prescription drugs.

"The best way to avoid the risks of prescription drug abuse, especially for children and teenagers, is to safely dispose of medications when they are unused or expired," said Malizia. "These PA MedReturn drop boxes offer the public a safe, accessible, and convenient alternative to keeping prescription drugs that aren't being used in the home where they can get in the wrong hands or be disposed of in landfills or down the drain where they can end up contaminating the water supply.

The PA MedReturn box was awarded to the Cameron County District Attorney's Office through a grant program made possible by a partnership between the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency as part of Governor Tom Corbett's Healthy PA initiative.

"Governor Corbett's Healthy PA initiative focuses on ensuring safe and appropriate access to prescription medications," said Gary Tennis, Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. "Our goal in creating this program is to provide education opportunities for the public, while reducing drug abuse and dependency."

Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest-growing drug problem and has been classified an epidemic by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, district attorneys across Pennsylvania have seen an increase in teenage pill parties, driving under the influence, and a dramatic increase in the use of heroin all related to prescription drug addiction.

The PA MedReturn collection box is located on the first floor of the Emporium Borough Building,. The boxes will accept: prescription and over-the-counter solid medications (tablets and capsules); liquid medications, inhalers, creams ointments, nasal sprays; and pet medications. The boxes will NOT accept: intravenous solutions, injectable and needles.

Additional information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and to get help for yourself or a loved one is available at www.ddap.pa.gov.

The District Attorney's office would like to thank the Emporium Borough Council and Chief Matt Siple for their cooperation.

*******************

************