National Take Back Day in Lebanon County
Josh Mountz from Compass Mark accepts unwanted Rx drugs via drive-by collection.
On Saturday April 22, 2023, the Lebanon City Police Department participated in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day event. National Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription substances, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications.
The DEA holds the event twice every year, in April and October. Compass Mark staff Krysta Pavasco (Prevention Specialist) and Josh Mountz (Training Coordinator) joined officers from the police force to interact with members from the local community and collect a total of 56 pounds of medication!
Properly disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired medication is a great example of primary prevention! The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) tells us that the majority of youth who report misusing prescription substances had been given them by a friend or family member (43.4%) or took them from a family member living at home (50.7%). Anything we can do to keep medications away from people who might misuse them is a great step forward in preventing the onset of substance use disorder!
Take Back Day is a partnership between Lebanon City Police, Compass Mark, and the Mayor’s Office.
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