Longwood at Oakmont buys drug disposal box for Plum community

Plum residents are now able to get rid of expired or unwanted medications at a new drop box at the borough’s police station.

Longwood at Oakmont in Plum bought the box for the borough for $2,600, said Kevin Henderson, Longwood senior director.

“The Plum Police Department will also come to Longwood once a month to collect unused, unneeded or expired meds from our residents,” Henderson said. “It’s a win-win.”

The box is in the police department’s secured lobby, the entrance to which is located at the lower back level of the borough’s municipal center on Old Mine Road.

While the borough will continue to participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s drug take-back days, held twice a year, the box will allow residents to dispose of medications at any time, Plum police Detective Joseph Little said.

Medications placed in the box will be given to the DEA, he said.

It’s important for people to properly dispose of any medication when done with it to prevent misuse and avoid improper disposal, Little said.

“Having expired and unused prescriptions in the home increases the chances of accidental poisoning of children or pets,” he said. “Safe disposal is also environmentally friendly. Flushing medications down the sink or toilet is not recommended because trace levels of drug residue have been found in drinking water supplies.”

Plum residents will be able to drop off unwanted medications at any time. If an officer or department employee is not at the station to allow access to the box, a phone in the open lobby can be used to reach an officer who will return to the station to allow access, Little said.

Residents unable to get to the police department can call 911 and ask an officer to come to their homes.

Any personal information should be removed from labels.

Accepted for disposal are:

• Prescriptions including opioids and other controlled substances

• Vitamins

• Prescription ointments

• Pet medications

• Prescription patches

• Over-the-counter medications

Items that cannot be disposed in the box are:

• Needles

• Inhalers

• Aerosol cans

• Thermometers

• Lotions and liquids

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD and heroin

• Chemotherapy drugs