Stock photo of prescription drug bottles. This photograph shows a close-up view of prescription drugs.
Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (CCDDAS) is spreading community awareness for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, taking place on Saturday, April 30th. Organized nationwide by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides temporary local sites for safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential misuse of medications.
In addition to the temporary sites available for Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30th, Chester County has over 25 permanent prescription drug disposal locations accessible every day.
From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30th, both temporary and permanent prescription drug disposal sites will be available throughout Chester County. To find a DEA hosted temporary site, please click here. To find a Chester County permanent sites, please click here.
This national event serves as an opportunity for community members to safely, and anonymously, dispose of unneeded and expired medications or other products typically found in their medicine cabinets, including vitamins, pet medications, and over the counter medications. For a full list of what is and is not accepted click here.
In addition to being a permanent prescription drug disposal site, Chester County Hospital will host “Check Your Meds” on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is an opportunity to speak with a pharmacist about the medications you or a loved one takes. The Chester County Hospital Pharmacist will review common uses and side effects of your medications and will check for drug-drug interactions with other medicines. Information on how medications and supplements are taken and stored properly will also be provided. Registration is required for this event. To register click here.
CCDDAS also reminds community members that treatment and other resources for helping someone with a substance use disorder are available.
“As we continue to face challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we remind residents that the opioid-use disorder, along with other substance use disorders remain extremely prevalent within our communities, and in some ways, may be exacerbated by the pandemic,” said Vince Brown, Director of the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services.
“If you or a loved one are struggling with drugs or alcohol, help is available. Drug and alcohol treatment and support services, which include 12-step meetings and other supports, have, and will continue to be available through the pandemic,” added Brown.
Whether you have insurance or not, drug and alcohol treatment services are available in Chester County. Accessing the services depend upon individual coverage, and if you have insurance, including Medicaid, please call the number listed on the back of your insurance card to get information on how to access drug and alcohol services. If you do not have insurance, please call one of the following agencies which is closest to you, for help:
- Gaudenzia Coatesville (Coatesville) – 610-383-9600
- Mirmont Outpatient (Exton) – 484-565-1130
- Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Kennett Square) – 610-388-9225
- Creative Health Services (Pottstown)- 610-933-1223
- Gaudenzia West Chester (West Chester) – 610-429-1414
In addition to treatment services, recovery supports are still available, although because of the pandemic, these supports may continue on a virtual platform. To locate substance use disorder recovery resources, as well as resources for the family, please see the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services Family Help Book.
For more information on drug and alcohol information and services, please visit the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services website, www.chesco.org/drugandalcohol, or the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Force website,www.stopodchesco.org.
