PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF STEPHANIE L. VETTENBURG-SHAFFER

MCKEAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Re:  Medication Drop Boxes quarterly community report

Dated:  October 19, 2018

McKean County has 4 medication drop boxes that allow residents to discard their unused medication.  The boxes were provided by the District Attorney’s Association and, the box in Kane, was sponsored by the Pennsylvania American Water.  The purpose of the boxes is to keep drugs off the street; keep drugs away from juveniles; and to keep drugs out of the waterways. 

The boxes in McKean County are located at the McKean County Sheriff’s Department located at the Jail; the Bradford City Police Department; the Bradford Township Police Department; and the Kane Police Department. 

Each quarter, the medications that have been discarded into the boxes are weighed by a County Detective from the District Attorney’s Office and discarded. 

This quarter, the total weight of the medications discarded was 212.4 lbs., an increase of 88.6 lbs. over the last quarter.

The box located at the McKean County Sheriff’s Department inside the McKean County Prison collected 41 lbs this quarter; the box at Bradford City Police Department collected 112.6 lbs; the box at Bradford Township Police Department collected 26.6 lbs; and the box located at the Kane Borough Police Department collected 32.2 lbs this quarter. 

Many experts report that opioid addiction frequently begins with the abuse of medication.  McKean County has seen overdose deaths from prescription medication as well as illegal drugs.  Often times, dangerous illegal drugs are mixed with even more deadly substances like fentanyl.  In a recent overdose death, the individual had consumed straight fentanyl, likely believing it to be something else.   

The medication drop boxes are one tool to help prevent addiction by minimizing access to medication. 

If anyone suspects illegal drug activity, please call the McKean County Drug Task Force at the District Attorney’s Office at (814) 887-3312 or MCDTFtip@gmail.com.