(Left to right) East Franklin Township Supervisor David Stewart, and Police Sergeant Bill Evans celebrate the successful Med Return unit with District Attorney Scott Andreassi, Coroner Brian Myers and Sheriff Bill Rupert yesterday (submitted photo)
by Jonathan Weaver
A new drug collection unit in East Franklin Township has already received pounds of items.
Located in the front of the township building along Cherry Orchard Avenue, Police Sergeant William Evans said residents have already dropped off 86 pounds of prescription and illegal drugs for proper disposal in the first three weeks.
“If (residents) find something they want to get rid of or if parents find something, just bring it out (and) throw it in. There (are) no questions asked,” Sergeant Evans said. “It’s sealed with evidence tape, weighed (and) logged in the evidence room until the National Guard comes to pick it up and take it to the steel mill to burn it.
“We saw that there was a need for it so we contacted the Drug and Alcohol Commission, contacted (District Attorney Scott) Andreassi – it wasn’t three days from the time we filled the applications out from the state and it was here.”
Andreassi said the state District Attorney’s Association processed the application right away.
“I think they’re as anxious as we are to get these boxes into the more-rural counties. It’s important for them and it’s important for us,” Andreassi said.
Residents used to collect unused prescription and illegal drugs and turn it into the state twice per year at such locations as the Pennsylvania State Police barracks or in Hilltop Plaza.
The box can be accessed 7AM-3PM Monday through Friday.
Deposited prescriptions, over the counter medications and vitamins are collected about every six months.
The largest collection site is at ACMH Hospital – which is emptied once or twice per week.
“Every box we’re seeing increased usage. As people begin to become aware of their location, we expect to see even more use,” Andreassi said. “Our goal is to put a box within a reasonable distance of every residence so they have an opportunity to dispose of their medications safely and securely.”
It is the eighth Med Return unit in the county, and the second placed in 2017.
Another box will be placed soon in Parker City as requested by the new Parker RAID team.
