Fall Drug Take-Back Day collects more than 700 pounds of medications

HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health exceeded last spring’s Drug Take-Back Day numbers by more than 100 pounds during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 25. Community members dropped off 702 pounds of medications and filled 20.5 sharps containers. This is the highest total since the fall 2020 event.

The health system accepted medications and needles/syringes at seven locations — Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey and Lancaster medical centers, Penn State Health Specialty Services in Camp Hill and Medical Group practices in Elizabethtown, Harrisburg, Palmyra and State College.

This event was held in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Elizabethtown Borough and Derry, East Pennsboro, East Hempfield, Lower Paxton, North Londonderry and Patton township police departments. Similar events occurred across the U.S., collecting 286 tons of medications.  

Penn State Health has participated in Drug Take-Back Day, which takes place twice a year, since 2015. Those efforts have collected close to 8,000 pounds of unwanted and expired medications and more than 320 large sharps containers full of used needles and syringes.

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has offered drug return boxes since 2019 in partnership with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. People can use them during regular business hours at these three locations on the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus:

• 30 Hope Drive, inside Entrance B
• Penn State Cancer Institute, near the pharmacy by the main entrance
• University Physician Center lobby, Door 4, near the pharmacy

Preventing substance misuse is a key part of Penn State Health’s focus on mental health as a priority health need. Learn more about Penn State Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Plan.