The public disposed of nearly 1,900 pounds of unwanted medications during the first year in Lehigh County, officials said.
The MedReturn boxes, similar to mail boxes, were installed in 12 police departments in the county in late 2013 and early 2014 as a way for the public to get rid of unwanted, unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Every quarter, detectives pick up the discarded medications and as of December 31, 2014, that amounted to 1,871 pounds.
Another collection box was installed in Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township in October 2014.
“It is clear that the permanent collection boxes have increased awareness of the serious
problem of prescription drug abuse and addiction and the need to properly dispose of over-the-counter and prescription medications," said Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin. “I hope that Lehigh County residents continue to use the boxes so that medications aren’t accumulated in their homes where they pose safety and health risks.”
Martin noted that residents are sometimes disposing of items that are prohibited from the collection boxes: syringes, needles, Sharps, intravenous solutions, lotions, liquids, aerosol cans, inhalers, hydrogen peroxide and thermometers.
The only items accepted at the collection boxes are prescription and solid over-the-counter medications, such as tablets and capsules; vitamins, samples, prescription patches, prescription ointments, nasal sprays and pet medications.
Medications can be dropped off at the collection boxes located at the following police departments and LVH:
? Catasauqua Police Department, 118 Bridge St., Catasauqua. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; hours will be expanded after a new station is built and opens in 2015;
? Allentown Police Department, 1005 W. Hamilton St. substation, Allentown. Open 24 hours, seven days a week;
? Bethlehem Police Department, 10 East Church St., Bethlehem. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; visitors entering the City Hall location should advise the front desk that they are there to go to the Police Department to discard unwanted medications;
? Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St., Emmaus. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays;
? Slatington Police Department, 125 S. Walnut St., Slatington. Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.;
? Whitehall Township Police Department, 3731 Lehigh St., Whitehall Township. Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. by appointment with Officer Paul Davis at 610-437-3042 extension 223. No holidays;
? Upper Saucon Township Police Department, 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Center Valley. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.;
? South Whitehall Township Police Department, 4444 Walbert Ave., South Whitehall Township. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. excluding holidays;
? Upper Macungie Township Police Department, 37 Grim Road, Upper Macungie Township. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays;
? Coplay Police Department, inside Borough Municipal Building, 98 S. Fourth St., Coplay, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, no holidays;
? Coopersburg Police Department, 5 N. Main St., Coopersburg, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or after hours by appointment, call 610-282-1444;
? Lehigh Valley Hospital, near the pharmacy, 1200 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Salisbury Township; and
? Salisbury Township Police Department, 3000 S. Pike Ave., Salisbury Township. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After-hours visits, if necessary, can be
scheduled by calling 610-797-1447 during business hours. There may be some Saturday hours in the future.
The medicines collected are incinerated at an authorized facility in York County.
For those living outside Lehigh County, you can find a location to drop unwanted medications on the MedReturn website.
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