North Huntingdon, Penn Township police to collect unwanted meds

Residents can get rid of old or unwanted prescription drugs at collection points set up Saturday by the North Huntingdon and Penn Township police departments as part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

North Huntingdon police will have a collection bin at the police station at the Town House, 11279 Center Highway. Penn Township police will collect old medications at Penn Crossing Shopping Center, 2000 Penny Lane Drive, Harrison City. Both departments will collect the medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Police will take prescription medications, including pills, tablets, capsules, liquids and creams, said Officer Tom Harris, who coordinates North Huntingdon’s Drug Take Back Day. The medications should be in a sealed bag so they do not spill, Harris said. The department will not accept needles, syringes or EpiPens, Harris said.

The event is sponsored by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which described it as a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Harris said the DEA in Pittsburgh reported the medication collection at the North Huntingdon police station is the largest in the region.

Greensburg police have a drop-off location in the dispatcher area where residents can leave unused prescriptions at any time, a city police spokeswoman said.