'Take Back' Prescription Drugs on Saturday

The fourth “Take Back” Day to collect expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs will be held in Bethlehem and across the Lehigh Valley from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

In the Bethlehem area, you can safely dispose of old medicines by taking them to:

• The  
• , 3926 Linden St.
• Young's Pharmacy, 3708 Freemansburg Ave.
• , 5000 Wegmans Drive, Hanover Township
• Fountain Hill Police Department, 941 Long St.

Police officers will accept controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter medications -- no questions asked -- as part of the “Take Back” program, which is nationwide. 

The first National Take Back Day was held in 2010. During the first three collection events in 2010 and 2011, a total of 1,446 pounds of drugs were collected in Lehigh County, according to information provided by the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office. Nationwide last fall, the public turned in more than 188.5 tons of medications at 5,327 sites.

Remember:

* All medications, including pet medications, liquid products and creams in containers, will be accepted.

* Syringes will not be accepted because of the potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.

* Illegal substances, such as marijuana and methamphetamine, are not part of the program and should not be placed in collection boxes.

* Before handing over unwanted prescriptions, remove any personal information from bottles or packages that contain medications.

Calling it a public safety matter, the Drug Enforcement Administration says unused or expired medicines can lead to accidental poisoning, overdoses and abuse.

Keeping expired or unused medicine can be dangerous.

“People can mistake one medication for another, especially if the names of the medications are close,” said Vicky Kistler, director of the Allentown Health Bureau. Having excess medications stored in homes “also can provide the opportunity for curious youths to experiment with dangerous drugs with serious consequences,” she added.

Here is a complete list of Drug Take-Back Day locations in the Lehigh Valley:

• , 3835 Dryland Way, Easton
• , 859 Nazareth Pike, Easton
• , 3791 Easton-Nazareth Highway, Easton
• Bath Drug, 310 S. Walnut Street, Bath
• , 801 S. 25th Street, Easton
• Walnutport Police Department, 417 Lincoln Avenue, Walnutport
• , 301 Town Center Boulevard, Easton
• , 3926 Linden St., Bethlehem
• , 3708 Freemansburg Avenue, Bethlehem
• , 5000 Wegman's Drive, Hanover Township
• , 2285 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem
• Fountain Hill Police Department - 941 Long St., Fountain Hill.
• - 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem.
• Alburtis Police Department, 260 Franklin St., Alburtis
• Catasauqua Police Department, 118 Bridge St., Catasauqua
• Emmaus Police Department, 400 Jubilee St., Emmaus
• Episcopal House, 1440 Walnut St., Allentown
• Giant supermarket, 3015 W. Emmaus Ave., Allentown
• Giant supermarket, 216 E. Fairmount St., Route 9, Coopersburg
• Lower Milford Township Police Department, 7607 Chestnut Hill Road, Coopersburg
• Macungie Police Department, 21 Locust St., Macungie
• Salisbury Township Police Department, 3000 South Pike Ave., Salisbury Township
• Slatington Police Department, 125 S. Walnut St., Slatington
• South Whitehall Township Police Department, 4444 Walbert Ave., South Whitehall Township
• Target, entrance at 912 Airport Center Road, Airport Shopping Plaza, Hanover Township, Lehigh County
• Upper Macungie Municipal Building, 8330 Schantz Road, Upper Macungie
• Upper Saucon Township Police Department, 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Center Valley
• Whitehall Township Police Department, 3731 Lehigh St., Whitehall