National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled for April 30 this year and the Tamaqua Police Department will once again be a participant.

Created by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2010, the initiative is an effort to prevent medication abuse and rid homes of unwanted and unnecessary prescription drugs. With collections taking place twice a year, more than 3 million pounds of prescription medication have been removed from circulation so far.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that enough pharmaceuticals are prescribed to medicate every American adult, around the clock, for one month. The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain those drugs from family members or friends, including stealing them from the home medicine cabinet.The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient method of disposal of old, unused drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for drug abuse and the hazards associated with improper disposal of drugs. This includes dangers to the environment when drugs are flushed down the toilet or thrown in landfills.Tamaqua Police will be collecting old, unused drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The location site is 320 E. Broad St., Tamaqua.Other take back sites include:CARBON:• Summit Hill Police Department, 40 W. Amidon St., Summit Hill• Pennsylvania State Police Lehighton Barrack, 9170 Interchange Road, Lehighton.MONROE:• Pocono Township Police Department, Pocono Township Police Building, 110 Township Drive, Tannersville.• Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Monroe County Courthouse, 610 Monroe St., Stroudsburg• Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department, Pocono Mountain Regional Police headquarters, 2454 Route 940, Pocono Summit.SCHUYLKILL:• Orwigsburg Police Department, 209 North Warren St.,Orwigsburg.• Pine Grove Police Department,1 Snyder Ave., Pine Grove• Mahanoy City Police Department,239 East Pine Street Mahanoy City• Schuylkill Haven Police Department, 220 Parkway Avenue Schuylkill Haven• Port Carbon Police Department, 90 Washington St., Port Carbon