Police in Kennett Square, as well as departments across the nation, are holding a DEA sponsored prescription drug disposal initiative
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
KENNETT SQUARE — Kennett Square Police, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency are participating in a nationwide free, no-questions-asked disposal event unused prescription drugs. The disposal drive is available from 10 AM to 2 PA this Saturday, October 29, at multiple sites in Chester and the adjoining counties.
Statistics from the DEA reveal that one in seven teens nationally admit to abusing prescription drugs in the past year, and 60% of teens who abused prescription pain relievers did so before the age of 15.
Two in five teens believe prescription drugs are “much safer” than illegal drugs while three in ten believe that prescription pain relievers are not addictive.
The number of emergency room visits attributable to pharmaceuticals alone jumped 97% between 2004 and 2008. This could be due to the fact that 56% of teens believe prescription drugs are easier to get than illicit drugs.
However the dangers of inappropriate prescription drug usage don’t affect users alone. Improper disposal also poses a threat to the community at large.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that traces of prescription drugs are being found in public water supplies, apparently due to flushing in sinks and toilets. Most of these drugs are come from home medicine cabinets and drawers.
“This is the third take-back initiative,” Borough Police Chief Edward Zunino said, “The first was in April 2010, and we collected 47 pounds. In April of this year we collected 55 ponds, and nationwide over 127 tons were collected. The same day it’s collected it’s sent to the DEA in Downingtown.”
The disposal locations for the immediate and surrounding areas are listed here:
Chester County
COATESVILLE:
Coatesville Police Department, 1 City Hall Place;
East Fallowfield Township Building, 2264 Strasburg Road; and
Pennsylvania State Police, 997 Lieds Road, Embreeville
DOWNINGTOWN:
Downingtown Police Department, 10 West Lancaster Avenue; and
East Brandywine Township Police, 1212 Horseshoe Pike
KENNETT SQUARE:
Kennett Square Police Department, 115 North Broad Street; and
Giant Markets, 350 Scarlet Road (New Garden Township Police)
PARKESBURG: Parkesburg Police Department, 315 West 1st Avenue
PHOENIXVILLE:
Giant Markets, 700 Nutt Road (Phoenixville Police Department); and
Phoenixville Police Department, 140 Church Street
POTTSTOWN:
Giant Markets, 86 Glocker Way (North Coventry Township Police)
WEST CHESTER:
Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police, 1041 Wilmington Pike; and
Giant Food Store, 698 Downingtown Pike (West Chester Police)
