More than 200 pounds of medication was discarded in McKean County’s unused medication drop boxes during this quarter, District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reported.
Shaffer explained there are four medication drop boxes in the county where residents can dispose of unused medication. The District Attorney’s Association provided the boxes, and Pennsylvania American Water sponsored the box in Kane.
“The purpose of the boxes is to keep drugs off the street; keep drugs away from juveniles; and to keep drugs out of the waterways,” said Shaffer.
The boxes are located at the McKean County Sheriff’s Department inside the McKean County Jail and the Bradford City, Bradford Township and Kane police departments.
“Each quarter, the medications that have been discarded into the boxes are weighed by a county detective from the District Attorney’s Office and discarded,” she said.
“This quarter, the total weight of the medications discarded was 212.4 pounds, an increase of 88.6 pounds over the last quarter.”
The box at the Sheriff’s Department collected 41 pounds this quarter; the box at Bradford City Police Department collected 112.6 pounds; the box at Bradford Township Police Department collected 26.6 pounds; and the box at the Kane Borough Police Department collected 32.2 pounds.
Misuse of medication can lead to serious drug problems, Shaffer indicated.
“Many experts report that opioid addiction frequently begins with the abuse of medication,” she said. “McKean County has seen overdose deaths from prescription medication as well as illegal drugs. Often times, dangerous illegal drugs are mixed with even more deadly substances like fentanyl. In a recent overdose death, the individual had consumed straight fentanyl, likely believing it to be something else.
“The medication drop boxes are one tool to help prevent addiction by minimizing access to medication,” Shaffer added.
Anyone who suspects illegal drug activity is asked to contact the McKean County Drug Task Force at the District Attorney’s Office at 887-3312 or MCDTFtip@gmail.com.
