Published by the Associated Press

December 16, 2013

Gov. Corbett is trying to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse, and is encouraging people to empty their medicine cabinets of expired or unused pharmaceuticals by taking them to one of 250 new drop-off boxes in Pennsylvania.

Corbett spoke at a Capitol news conference today.

The boxes are under 24-hour surveillance in secure locations, such as police departments, sheriff's offices or district attorneys' offices. The drugs collected are to be incinerated once a month.

The idea is to keep teenagers from getting addicted to prescription drugs, which is considered the No. 1 gateway drug to heroin. Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico says many home burglars are addicts looking for prescription drugs in medicine cabinets.

Corbett advises against putting the drugs into the trash or down toilets or drains.

(Staff, "Corbett announces new prescription drug drop off boxes," Associated Press, 12/16/13)