UMPD to Participate in National Drug Take-Back Event

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is returning to Upper Moreland on April 28.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors the event, and in Upper Moreland, it will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the , located at 315 N. York Road in Willow Grove. Drugs may be dropped off at the supermarket’s entrance area.

The event, which is held to help protect children, families, as well as the environment, is also designed to bring national attention to the issue of what happens to unused prescription medicine just laying around in the home.

“The purpose for this event is to get the prescription drugs out of our medicine closets and to keep them off our streets,” Tina McGuckin, a at the UMPD, said in a correspondence. “This is an awareness event. Not to just dispose of the drugs in a ‘Green’ way, but to get rid of the unused prescription drugs that easily turn into ‘street’ drugs.”

The April 28 event marks the fourth of its kind in the past two years. According to McGuckin, including Upper Moreland, there are 24 registered sites throughout Montgomery County. At the last event, 825 pounds of drugs were collected. Throughout Pennsylvania, a total of 401 sites registered and collected 16,321 pounds of drugs.

Across the country, 3,945 sites will participate in the upcoming National Drug Take Back event.

“Upper Moreland participates in this event, because we see first hand what these drugs can do to a community,” McGuckin said. “We will continue to do our part and ask for residents to do theirs. The volume of prescription drug abuse keeps rising. We want to see our streets drug free.”

McGuckin said that all prescription and non-prescription drugs are welcomed for the drop off.

“It is simple,” McGuckin said. “Come into Giant, smile, drop, and have a nice day.”

Participating in the National Drug Take Back event?

• When: April 28,

• Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Where: Giant Food Store, 315- N. York Road, Willow Grove.

• Participants should remove any personal information from prescription bottles.

• No needles of any kind will be accepted.

For more information, visit the DEA website here, or call Upper Moreland Police Department at 215-657-4700.