Harrisburg, Pa. — The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) is calling on Pennsylvania’s construction workers and their families to take part in this fall’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 25, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to help communities safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.
The effort is a collaboration between KCA, the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) — aiming to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse across the Commonwealth.
During the last Take-Back Day in April, nearly 32,000 pounds of unused medications were collected across 230 sites statewide, according to the DEA. These events, held twice a year in spring and fall, are part of a coordinated strategy to reduce substance misuse and promote safe disposal practices.
“Getting rid of all the expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications in your cabinets, on your shelves, and around your home is one of the most effective ways to prevent substance misuse,” said DDAP Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones. “Protecting those who are literally building our communities is at the heart of the Shapiro Administration’s partnership with the KCA as we work together to strengthen substance use disorder prevention efforts within Pennsylvania’s construction industry.”
KCA leaders joined state officials this week at the construction site of the future Veterans Village in Harrisburg to highlight the importance of prevention, education, and awareness around substance use disorder (SUD) within the building trades — a sector that has historically faced higher risks of opioid dependency and overdose.
A CDC study found that construction workers prescribed opioids for pain had a higher likelihood of developing opioid use disorder (OUD). Roughly 15% of construction workers who were prescribed opioids became long-term users, and those long-term users were ten times more likely to develop OUD.
“The Keystone Contractors Association takes safety seriously — not just on the jobsite, but at home and in our communities,” said Jon O’Brien, KCA Executive Director. “Unused or expired medications can pose real risks to our families and coworkers. We're urging everyone, especially our construction professionals, to take part in National Drug Take-Back Day by safely disposing of unused prescriptions. It's a simple step that helps prevent misuse and keeps our workplaces and neighborhoods safer.”
KCA, representing about 100 construction companies statewide, has made safety and workforce well-being a top priority. The organization regularly equips job sites with naloxone, an overdose reversal medication, supplied through DDAP’s Overdose Prevention Program. Since July 2023, the program has distributed over 2 million doses across Pennsylvania, including 400,000 doses in just the first half of 2025.
“We want to spread the message that Drug Take-Back Days are also a reminder to make sure you have naloxone because an overdose can happen anytime, anywhere. Think of it just like Daylight Saving Time — turn your clock back, change your smoke alarm batteries; drop off your unused prescriptions, pick up naloxone,” said Secretary Davis-Jones.
State lawmakers have also lent their voices to the cause.
“After spending more than two decades in the construction industry, I’ve seen firsthand the pain that substance use disorder can cause to workers, families, and entire communities,” said Senator John Kane. “Safely getting unused or expired prescription drugs out of our homes is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent substance misuse; and for some, it can be the first step on the path to recovery. I’m proud to support partnerships like this between the Shapiro Administration and the Keystone Contractors Association, because when we work together to promote education, prevention, and access to tools like naloxone, we’re able to help save lives.”
For those unable to attend on October 25, there are nearly 900 permanent Prescription Drug Take-Back Program locations across Pennsylvania, many located in state police stations and open 24/7 with no personal information collected.
“Drug take-back boxes are safe, free of charge, easy to use, and conveniently located at a state police station near you,” said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. “We want families to recognize that safeguarding prescription drugs is just as important as locking the doors to their homes.”
The DMVA’s Counterdrug Joint Task Force, operated by the Pennsylvania National Guard, helps collect, weigh, and destroy the medications gathered through the program — working closely with narcotics agents from the Attorney General’s Office.
“Drug Take-Back Day shows the power of agencies uniting to protect our communities — safely removing unused prescriptions before they can cause harm,” said Major General John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the DMVA. “When agencies work together to collect and dispose of unused drugs, we take a stand for health, safety, and a cleaner community. I am proud of the role the Pennsylvania National Guard plays in keeping harmful medications out of circulation and safeguarding our communities.”
For more information about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, visit takebackday.dea.gov.
Free naloxone and other overdose prevention resources can be found through DDAP’s website, while individuals seeking treatment or recovery services can contact PA Get Help Now at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or use Treatment Atlas, an online confidential locator tool for SUD treatment and recovery programs.
Originally reported by NCPA Staff in NCPA. Com.
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