Saturday is the 16th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The public will have the opportunity, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to safely drop off expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications at designated drop off locations. This past April, New Jersey residents dropped off over 14,800 pounds of prescription pills.
Sorry, no liquids, needles or sharps are accepted.
The event is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with local law enforcement.
“This national program began right here in New Jersey in 2009,” Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, Valerie A. Nickerson, said. “Drug prevention starts in the home, and this is an easy and convenient way for New Jersey residents to rid their homes of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Nearly 75 percent of new heroin users began by abusing prescription pain killers, so Take Back Day is a way to remove that temptation.”
More than 72,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2017, according to the CDC. Opioids and other prescription pain killers, often taken from friends’ and families’ drug cabinets, contributed to 49,000 of those deaths.
At press time, several local locations were listed as drop off sites for this weekend.
Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, 416 New Jersey Ave.
Seaside Park Police Department, 1 Municipal Plaza.
Surf City Police Department, 813 Long Beach Blvd.
Beach Haven Police Department (and the library), 247 North Beach Ave.
Harvey Cedars Police Department, 7606 Long Beach Blvd.
Howell Police Department, 300 Old Tavern Road.
For updated locations, visit DEATakeBack.com or call 800-882-9539.
