AHN Promotes Year-Round Safe Medication Disposal, Spotlights National Drug Take Back Day

PITTSBURGH - Ahead of 'National Prescription Drug Take Back Day' this Saturday, Oct. 25^th, Allegheny Health Network (AHN) officials are reminding Western Pennsylvanians of the importance of the safe disposal of unused or expired medications. To properly dispose of these medications, AHN has drug take-back boxes permanently stationed at the following locations:

• AHN Allegheny General Hospital (Nearby parking services in Snyder Pavilion)
• AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital (Main hospital lobby)
• AHN Cancer Institute - Butler (Main lobby)
• AHN Canonsburg Hospital (Main hospital lobby)
• AHN Forbes Hospital (Nearby Visitor Entrance D)
• AHN Grove City (Switchboard Lobby)
• AHN Jefferson Hospital (Main hospital lobby)
• AHN Saint Vincent Hospital (Main hospital lobby)
• AHN West Penn Hospital (Nearby onsite pharmacy, 1st floor)
• AHN Wexford Health + Wellness Pavilion (Nearby onsite pharmacy, 1st floor)

Accepted at the take-back boxes are unused or expired prescription medication (including Schedule II-V controlled substances), unused or expired over-the-counter medications and pet medication. Not accepted are Schedule I controlled substances, illegal drugs, thermometers, aerosol cans, inhalers, needles, lotions/liquids or hydrogen peroxide.

"As part of AHN's commitment to the health and safety of the communities it serves, we are proud to provide clear, year-round pathways for safe medication disposal," said Laura Mark, MS, PharmD, FASHP, vice president of pharmacy, AHN. "Proper disposal of unused medications is a crucial step in preventing accidental poisoning, misuse and opioid addiction."

The Pennsylvania Drug Take Back Program has facilitated the installation of prescription drug take-back boxes in communities throughout the state. Nationally, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day" twice annually, an initiative that has led to the proper disposal of thousands of tons of drugs.

As the drug overdose epidemic persists, more than 80,000 deaths were reported in the U.S. in 2024, according to the CDC. Accessible drug take back programs encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes, a measure to prevent misuse of medication and opioid addiction.

To locate other drug take-back receptacles throughout Pennsylvania, visit https://www.ddap.pa.gov/Prevention/pages/drug_take_back.aspx. To learn about addiction medicine at AHN, visit https://www.ahn.org/services/medicine/center-for-inclusion-health/addiction-medicine.

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