LONG POND, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — It's the big race weekend at Pocono Raceway, and it's also a Drug Take Back weekend at the Raceway.
Race fans can bring their unused or outdated prescription drugs to the track, where they will be collected and safely destroyed at a later date.
Pennsylvania Attorney General's office and Pocono Raceway officials are teaming up for the drug collection effort.
The mission is to help fight the opioid epidemic in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The I-Team's Andy Mehalshick reports live on 28/22 News.
It's also a drug take back weekend at Pocono Raceway.
It's an effort to keep drugs off the streets to help fight the opioid epidemic.
The "Drug Take Back Operation" is run by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office with the support of Pocono Raceway.
This is the seventh year it will be held at the raceway.
The ultimate mission: save lives by keeping drugs off the streets.
"The drug take back event is unbelievably important. The reality is we do everything we can to take potentially abused drugs out of the supply and that makes our community safer," voiced Dave Sunday, PA Attorney General.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday urges people coming Pocono Raceway to bring unused or outdated prescription drugs.
They will be collected at the track and then safely disposed of.
"Unfortunately we are in the world where we are dealing with addiction, we're dealing with the opioid epidemic, and unfortunately what happens is a lot of people are in the throws of addiction. I mean they'll try to find pills wherever they can get them," explained AG Sunday.
This event has collected hundreds of pounds of medications each year.
"It makes it way easier and more convenient. A lot of people do take their drugs to courthouses and police stations to get rid of them. This is a chance, it's easier you're already going there. There's a lot of people doing it so when we can take huge quantities of drugs like that out of the potential supply and have them destroyed, it makes it way better," stated AG Sunday.
"Are we making progress with opioid addiction especially with fentanyl, it rears it's ugly head everyday. Are we making progress," asked Mehalshick.
"We are absolutely making progress. I've been in this fight a little over a decade. The fact that you and I are having this conversation that so many people are bringing their pills out to an event like this. That shows we are making a lot of progress," stated AG Sunday.
Pocono raceway officials are also offering a voucher to people who drop off prescription drugs to return to the raceway on Tuesday, July 8 to drive their own vehicle around The Tricky Triangle. The drop-off site is located at the main entrance near the large flag pole. It will be there right through the weekend.