Chester County’s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services (CCDDAS) is spreading community awareness for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29th.
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, and uses the event as an opportunity to remind the public about the potential misuse of medications.
Chester County’s 29 permanent drug disposal sites will be joined by two additional temporary sites, open to the public on October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Details of the 29 permanent sites can be found at www.chesco.org/2673/Medication-Disposal, and the two temporary sites are located at CVS, 101 Reeceville Road, Coatesville, and the VA Hospital “F” Parking Lot, 1400 Blackhorse Hill Road, Coatesville.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day serves as an opportunity to safely and anonymously dispose of unneeded and/or expired medications or other products typically found in medicine cabinets such as vitamins, pet medications, over the counter medications, and more. For a full list of what is accepted and what is not accepted go to https://www.chesco.org/2673/Medication-Disposal.
“The opioid and overdose crisis continues to be combatted in the county through prevention, intervention and treatment efforts,” said Vince Brown, Director of the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services.
“In addition to education and awareness efforts, prescription drug misuse can be prevented through safeguarding or monitoring prescription medications that are in the home and disposing of any unneeded or expired prescription medications at a medication collection box,” added Brown.
In addition to serving as a permanent drug disposal site, Chester County Hospital will be hosting Check Your Meds on Saturday, October 29th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event offers an opportunity to speak with a pharmacist about the medications you or a loved one take. The Chester County Hospital Pharmacist will review common uses and side effects of your medications, will check for drug-drug interactions with other medicines, and will provide tips to ensure that your medications and supplements are taken and stored properly. This event is free, but requires registration at https://www.chestercountyhospital.org/community-wellness-and-education/wellness-events-calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D161894017.
CCDDAS also reminds community members that, regardless of insurance, drug and alcohol treatment services are available in Chester County. Accessing the services is dependent upon individual coverage.
“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,” said Vince Brown. “But if you do not have insurance, please call one of the Chester County agencies closest to you, for help.”
The drug and alcohol treatment agencies are:
- Gaudenzia Coatesville (Coatesville) – 610-383-9600
- Mirmont Outpatient (Exton) – 484-565-1130
- Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Kennett Square) – 610-388-9225
- Holcomb Behavioral Health Systems (Phoenixville)- 610-935-2290
- Gaudenzia West Chester (West Chester) – 610-429-1414
In addition to treatment services, recovery supports are also still available. 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 at www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/62012/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 at www.chesco.org/drugandalcohol or the Chester County Overdose Prevention Task Forcewww.stopodchesco.org.
