Sept. 29 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Instead of throwing out or flushing unused or expired prescription drugs, the U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration is asking everyone to turn in those drugs this Saturday, Sept. 29.

Though this is a national initiative, Bucks County is getting involved so that residents can turn in unused, unneeded or expired medications for free, anonymous and safe disposal.

According to a flier distributed by the Bucks County Commissioners and the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers get them from friends or family; one in five high school students have abused prescription drugs; and Environmental Protection Agency studies have detected pharmaceutical drugs in the water supply.

All of these findings are why Bucks County has joined in on the national initiative to collect prescription drugs.

Products being accepted include prescription and over-the-counter solid mediations such as tablet and capsules; liquid medications, inhalers, creams, ointments, nasal sprays; and pet medications.

Intravenous solutions, injectibles, needles and illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not being accepted.

The Lower Southampton Police Station is one of the many Bucks County drop-off locations. Lieutenant John Krimmel told Patch that the station will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for residents to drop off their drugs.

For a complete list of Bucks County drop-off locations, please refer to the PDF attached to this article or visit the Drug Enforcement Administration's website.