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Medication Take-Back
Twice-a-year free events (and year-round paid service) are made available to residents for convenient, safe disposal of unwanted household medications (controlled, over-the-counter, pet medications).
Drug Take-Back Events
The Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. The event is held twice annually, in April and October.
- In 2023, 378 pounds were collected in April, and 201 pounds in October.
- In 2022, 410 pounds were collected in April and 203 pounds in October.
- In 2021, 140 pounds were collected in April and 132 pounds in October.
Let's continue to collect more at each event!
Details
April TBD, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Erie Police Department
1000 Telleen Avenue, Erie
- What medications or drugs are accepted?
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Accepted
The following items are accepted at the Medication Take-Back events:- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter medications
- Epi-pens (needle must be closed)
- Liquid form
NOT Accepted
The following items are NOT accepted at the Medication Take-Back events:- Radioactive
- Sharp needles like syringes.
- Illegal substances
- Is the event Free?
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The Medication Take-Back events are FREE!
There is no need to purchase a bag for this event.
If you will need to dispose of drugs safely and cannot make it to an event, we offer small plastic bags with return postage paid for $4.20.
- Am I required to purchase a drug bag?
-
There is no need to purchase a bag for this event.
If you will need to dispose of drugs safely and cannot make it to an event, we offer small plastic bags with return postage paid for $4.20. - Do we need to remove labels from bottles?
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We do not require labels to be removed. The drugs collected (and their bottles) are incinerated which removes any ability to trace any medication back to an individual.
- Are liquid medications allowed?
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Yes! We do accept liquid prescriptions at the Medication Take-Back events.
- Do you accept vitamins?
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Yes, we do accept unwanted vitamins at the Medication Take-Back events.
Year-round Disposal
'TakeAway Medication Recovery System' envelopes are available for a nominal fee ($4.20 to cover the pre-paid postage) at the Erie Police Department (1000 Telleen Avenue, Erie), Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Next, fill the tamper-evident envelope with medications, including controlled substances (Schedules II-V), seal the envelope with the special tamper-evident seal and drop off at any U.S. Postal Office.
Why?
- Safety of loved ones! Unused medications could fall into the hands of small children and cause accidental poisoning.
- Protect our environment. Flushing or trash disposal of unused and unwanted medications can cause pollution of lakes, streams, and water supplies.
More
Additional locations are available.
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