National Medicine Take Back Returns to Middlesex County April 26th

Middlesex County municipalities, Sheriff’s Department, and Rutgers University will again participate in event designed to dispose of unused medication

On April 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every municipality in Middlesex County, along with Rutgers University and the Family Courthouse, will provide the public another opportunity to prevent prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted drugs.

“Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the U.S. and locally, and a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends,” said NCADD CEO Steve Liga. “The no-questions-asked “take-back” will enable our neighbors to help prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired and unwanted prescription drug.”

During the two 2013 Take Back events, Middlesex County residents turned in over 2,700 pounds (or 1.5 tons) of drugs. Since the program’s inception in 2010, over 8,000 pounds of drugs have been disposed of throughout the County. In New Jersey, close to 99,000 pounds (or almost 50 tons) have been turned in by state residents over the same timeframe.

According to recent studies, rates of prescription drug abuse in the US has reached epidemic proportions. More US citizens (nearly 6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using heroin, cocaine, inhalants and LSD combined, based on the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Research reveals that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from friends family members, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Middlesex County residents are urged to clean out their medicine cabinets and bring their medications for disposal to sites available in their own municipality. A link to locate a collection site near you is now posted on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.   The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Members of the public are reminded that they can use any of the five currently available permanent collection sites throughout the County. These sites are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year to dispose of their unused and expired prescription medications. The boxes enable consumers to drop off their unused or excess medications safely and securely. The five available boxes are located at the police headquarter buildings in East Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, Plainsboro, and Piscataway.

The Coalition for Healthy Communities, an initiative of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) of Middlesex County, Inc., is the lead organization assisting in the implementation of this event in Middlesex County.  Statewide, National Take-Back is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey Division, Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, and the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General.

Prescriptions collected during National Take-Back will be taken to a central location to be incinerated. Anyone seeking additional information or volunteer opportunities for National Take-Back in Middlesex County should contact Linda Surks at 732-254-3344.