Ahead of a drug take-back this weekend, families of loved ones lost to prescription drug abuse told their stories in Montgomery County Tuesday morning.
Families gathered at the East Norriton Police station to talk about the take-back program, which will include 10 MedReturn boxes sponsored by the Pennsylvania American Water Company and a large-scale take-back at numerous county locations on Saturday.
County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Commissioner Josh Shapiro also spoke at the event.
“Drug addiction and overdose is a comprehensive problem that demands a comprehensive response,” said Ferman.
Part of the prescriptions pill problem is that 27 percent of teenagers falsely believe that prescriptions are safer than street drugs leading to 3 million new teenage prescription drug abusers each year, said officials.
PAWC hopes to spread the take-back boxes statewide, putting in 250 total. the hope is that people who want to flush away medications will instead choose a drop-off box.
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“Experience shows that the most effective and cost-efficient way to ensure high-quality water at the tap is to keep our source waters clean,” said PAWC President Kathy Pape. “We support this partnership because it helps spread an important message to the public: ‘Don’t flush medications down the toilet, where they would eventually end up in our waterways.’"
County officials also lauded its Nalaxone (aka Narcan) program that can be used to reverse a drug overdose. About 330 police cars in the county will now carry the antidote that has saved 16 lives since April.
In 2013, a national study revealed that Pennsylvania ranked 14th in the nation in overdose deaths, said the county. And, the majority of overdoses came from prescription drugs rather than heroin and cocaine.
October 17, 2015 Drug Take Back Day Sites:
Abington Police Department, 1166 Old York Rd., Abington, PA 19001
Cheltenham Township Police Department, 8230 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
Collegeville Borough Police Department – Collegeville Fire Department, 25 E. Fifth Ave.,
Collegeville, PA 19426
Conshohocken Borough Police Department, 720 Fayette St., Conshohocken, PA 19428
East Norriton Township Police Department, 2501 Stanbridge St., East Norriton, PA 19401
Hatfield Township Administration Building, 1950 School Rd., Hatfield, PA 19440
Hatboro Police Department, 120 E. Montgomery Ave., Hatboro, PA 19040
Jenkintown Borough Police Department, 700 Summit Ave., Jenkintown, PA 19046
Limerick Township Police Department, 646 West Ridge Pike, Limerick, PA 19468
Lower Pottsgrove Township - Sanatoga Fire House, 2222 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464
Lower Providence Township Police Department, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403
Marlborough Township Police Department, 6040 Upper Ridge Rd., Green Lane, PA 18054
Montgomery Township - Giant Food Store, 1201 Knapp Rd., North Wales, PA 19454
New Hanover Township Police Department, 2943 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville, PA 19525
Pottstown Police Department, 100 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
Royersford Police Department, 300 Main St, Royersford, PA 19468
Springfield Township Police Department, 1510 Paper Mill Road, Wyndmoor, PA 19038
Towamencin Township Police Department, 1090 Troxel Rd., Kulpsville, PA 19443
Upper Merion Township Police Department, 175 West Valley Forge Rd., King of Prussia, PA
19406
Upper Moreland Township Police Department, 117 Park Ave., Willow Grove, PA 19090
Upper Providence Township Police Department, 1286 Black Rock Rd., Oaks, PA 19456
West Conshohocken Borough Hall, 112 Ford Street, West Conshohocken, PA 19428
West Norriton Township Police Department, 1630 W. Marshall St., Jeffersonville, PA 19403
Whitpain Township Police Department, 960 Wentz Rd, Blue Bell, PA 19422
