Wilkes University’s Generation Rx and the Luzerne County Medical Society, in partnership with the Luzerne County District Attorney and Sheriff offices, are hosting a local event on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Area residents are encouraged to safely dispose of unused or expired medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Luzerne County Courthouse, 200 N. River St., Wilkes-Barre.
Community members can ‘drive-up’ to drug take-back boxes at the courthouse and turn in expired or unused medications safely and conveniently. Participants will enter via River St. and exit via Pierce St. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, medicines in the home are a leading cause of accidental poisoning and flushed or trashed medicines can end up polluting waters. Rates of prescription drug abuse are alarmingly high with over half of teens abusing medicines they get from a family member, friend, or the home medicine cabinet.
To prepare items for disposal:
- All pharmaceutical drugs to be disposed must be placed in a sealed container such as the original bottle or zip-lock bag.
- Liquid pharmaceuticals should remain in the original container.
- Personal information should be removed or marked out with a permanent marker.
What you can dispose:
- Prescription and over-the-counter solid medications
- Tablets and capsules
- Pet medication
What you may not drop off:
- Intravenous solutions
- Injectables, syringes, and needles (i.e. EpiPens); these need to be taken to a health-care professional’s office or to a hospital for disposal
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Compressed cylinders or aerosols (e.g., asthma inhalers)
- Iodine-containing medications
- Thermometers
- Alcohol & illicit drugs
