Longwood at Oakmont buys drug disposal box for Plum community

Plum residents can now dispose of expired or unwanted medications in a new drop box at the township police station.

Longwood at Oakmont in Plum purchased the box for the township for $2,600, said Kevin Henderson, Longwood senior director.

“The Plum Police Department will also come to Longwood once a month to collect unused, unnecessary or expired medications from our residents,” Henderson said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

The box is located in the police department’s secure lobby, the entrance to which is located on the lower rear level of the township’s municipal center on Old Mine Road.

Although the municipality will continue to participate in the US Drug Enforcement Administration program. medication return daysHeld twice a year, the box will allow residents to dispose of medications at any time, said Plum Police Detective Joseph Little.

The medications placed in the box will be delivered to the DEA, he stated.

It’s important for people to properly dispose of any medication when they’re done with it to prevent misuse and improper disposal, Little said.

“Having expired and unused prescriptions at home increases the chances of accidental poisoning of children or pets,” he said. “Safe disposal is also environmentally friendly. Flushing medications down the sink or toilet is not recommended because trace amounts of medication residues have been found in drinking water supplies.”

Plum residents will be able to drop unwanted medications at any time. If an officer or department employee is not at the station to allow access to the box, a phone in the open lobby can be used to contact an officer who will return to the station to allow access, Little said.

Residents who cannot get to the police department can call 911 and ask an officer to come to their homes.

Any personal information must be removed from the labels.

Accepted for removal:

• Prescriptions that include opioids and other controlled substances

• Vitamins

• Prescription ointments

• Medications for pets

• Prescription patches

• Over the counter drugs

Items that cannot be discarded at the checkout are:

• Needles

• Inhalers

• Aerosol cans

• Thermometers

• Lotions and liquids

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD and heroin.

• Chemotherapy medications