Penn State Health collects hundreds of pounds of unwanted prescription drugs

Penn State Health employees organize medication and sharps collected at Penn State Health Medical Group – Palmyra, one of four locations where the health system held National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events on April 30, 2022.

Penn State Health collected 593 pounds of unneeded or expired medication on Saturday, April 30, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event also filled 27 sharps containers with used needles and syringes.

The health system provided four drive-through locations – in Camp Hill, Harrisburg, Hershey and Palmyra, in partnership with the Derry Township, East Pennsboro Township, Lower Paxton Township and North Londonderry Township police departments. Similar events took place across the U.S.

Since fall 2015, Penn State Health has held 13 such prescription drug take back events, collecting more than 5,900 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs and 214 sharps containers full of needles and syringes.

Properly disposing of medication, needles and syringes is important because expired medications have passed their half-life and can become ineffective. The chemical composition of the drugs can change over time and they could become potentially harmful or less potent. In addition, children can find the items and accidently harm themselves. Proper disposal also eliminates the temptation to self-medicate using someone else’s prescriptions.

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