Monongahela Valley Hospital Helps Keep Drugs Off of the Streets

Do you have bottles of prescription drugs sitting in your medicine cabinet that you will never use? Are expired bottles of over-the-counter cough syrup and packets of cold medicine crowding your shelves? Monongahela Valley Hospital is once again partnering with the Carroll Township Police Department to help keep drugs off of the streets. On October 24, during National Drug Take Back Day, the Hospital will serve as a collection site enabling the police department to collect prescription and over-the counter medications.

"Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands," said Paul Brand, chief of the Carroll Township Police Department. "We've been joining forces with the Hospital for many years now to make it as safe and convenient as possible for local residents to dispose of unused drugs."

MVH and the Carroll Twp. Police have a proven system in place for the drug collection. Motorists simply pull around the circular driveway outside of the Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center and remain in their cars. One of the officers then takes the drugs from the car window and deposits them in boxes.

"We are privileged to assist the local police department in the semi-annual drug collections," said MVH President and CEO Louis J. Panza Jr. "This is yet another step we can take to help combat the drug epidemic and keep our homes safer."

Once the drugs are collected, law enforcement officers seal the boxes. Representatives from the Drug Enforcement Administration then weigh them and safely disposed of the items.

The October 24 event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Monongahela Valley Hospital. For more information, visit takebackday.dea.gov.