Allegheny County DA urges weekend medicine cabinet cleanup

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. is encouraging residents to clean out their medicine cabinets this weekend to coincide with changing their clocks.

“The beginning of daylight saving time is the perfect time for people to identify unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications in their homes, medications that if abused or used improperly can be extremely dangerous, addictive and potentially lethal,” said Zappala.

Zappala said medication return boxes are available throughout Allegheny County to help residents dispose of expired medications.

“As a community, we have made substantial progress in keeping unused medications off the streets, but this effort by all of us needs to continue,” he said. “The more unused medications we can keep off the streets, the more lives we all save.”

Through a grant administered by the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, Zappala’s office has placed more than 20 medications collection boxes at police departments throughout the county.

Dropoffs may be made to the boxes, generally located in the main lobbies, with no questions asked.

The participating police departments are: Baldwin Borough, Bellevue, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, City of Pittsburgh (on Western Avenue), Crafton, Dormont, Elizabeth Township, Greentree, Hampton, Indiana Township, Jefferson Hills, Leetsdale, Leet Township, Moon Township, McKeesport, Northern Regional, Ohio Township, Pitcairn, Ross, Sewickley Borough, Shaler, South Fayette and Turtle Creek.