SMETHPORT — A total of 106.9 pounds of unused medication were emptied and disposed of from medication drop boxes throughout the county, announced McKean District Attorney Stephanie L. Vettenburg-Shaffer on Wednesday.
There are five drop boxes in the county. Shaffer explained how much was collected from each one.
At Bradford City Police Station, 51.8 pounds was collected, an increase of 8.8 pounds since the second quarter. At Bradford Township police station, 7.8 pounds was collected, an increase of 3.6 pounds since the second quarter. At Kane Borough police station, 15 pounds was collected, a decrease of 17 pounds from the second quarter.
At the McKean County Sheriff’s office, there was 32.2 pounds collected, a decrease of 22.4 pounds since the second quarter. And at the Lewis Run state police barracks, .1 pound was collected, a decrease of 3 pounds since the second quarter.
The boxes were sponsored by the Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association and the Pennsylvania American Water Company as a tool for residents to discard unused medication safely.
The county detectives with the district attorney’s office collect and weigh the unused medication in the boxes and arrange for their disposal with the state attorney general’s office.
“The drop boxes are for anyone in our area to discard any unused medication they may have to prevent it from being used by anyone other than to whom it was prescribed as one step in preventing abuse and to prevent it from being flushed and impacting our water supply,” Shaffer said.
Anyone who suspects illegal drug activity is encouraged to contact the McKean County Drug Task Force at MCDTFtip@gmail.com or (814) 887-3312.
