Gettysburg residents can turn in unwanted medicines today, at the Adams County Housing Authority, giving households a local collection point during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The borough police department says the collection will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 40 E. High St. The announcement lists prescription medicines, controlled substances and over-the-counter drugs among the items accepted.
Tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids may be brought in their packaging, according to police. Sharps and syringes will not be accepted because of the danger they pose to people handling the collected material.
The local event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s nationwide collection day. The agency describes the program as a way to remove unused prescriptions from homes while educating the public about the potential for medication abuse.
Federal disposal guidance also addresses privacy. Before turning in prescription medicines, the Food and Drug Administration advises people to scratch out personal information on bottle labels and other packaging; medicines surrendered at take-back sites are destroyed.
Residents who cannot attend Saturday’s event have other options. The DEA maintains a searchable directory of authorized year-round collectors, and the FDA says participating pharmacies and law-enforcement facilities may offer permanent collection boxes or other disposal services.
Prepaid mail-back envelopes provide another route, the FDA says. Some pharmacies sell them or provide them at no charge, allowing people to seal unwanted medicines in an approved envelope and send them through the U.S. Postal Service.
Disposal rules can depend on the product and collection program. The FDA advises checking the instructions supplied with medicines that have unusual dosage forms, or asking a pharmacist about proper disposal; residents with questions about Saturday’s accepted items should contact Gettysburg Borough Police.