Prescription drugs are not always easy for people to dispose of, but the importance of properly cleaning out medicine cabinets can’t be overestimated.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back days have been initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration of the U.S. Justice Department to offer the public a convenient and safe way to dispose of unneeded drugs.
The next Take-Back Day is this Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three Morris County locations, Morris Plains, Hanover Township, and Randolph. The event was jointly announced by Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations John R. Speirs, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Morris Plains Borough Police Chief Jason A. Kohn, Randolph Township Police Chief David Stokoe and Morris Township Police Chief Mark DiCarlo. Morris Township Police are sponsoring the Hanover Township location.
“This program has proven to be an effective method for the appropriate discarding of unused and unwanted medications, and I am hopeful this trend will continue,” Prosecutor Knapp said. “Curbing the abuse of medications not only benefits individuals, but benefits society as a whole.”
The initiative encourages individuals to anonymously and confidentially turn in expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications into secure drop boxes. The method is a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of drugs.
It’s also proven to be very popular. The DEA says nearly 900,000 pounds of unwanted medicines – about 447 tons – were turned in last year at Take-Back days throughout the country.
At this year’s first Take-Back Day in April, about 726 pounds of medicines were collected in Morris County and 18,000 pounds were collected in New Jersey. A total of 372 pounds was turned in at the three locations run by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in Morris Township, Morris Plains and Randolph. Some 166 pounds of drugs was turned in at the Morris Plains location, 148 pounds in Randolph and 58 in Morris Township.
Drugs turned in at other county locations run by municipal police departments brought the overall Morris County total to 726 pounds.
Once turned in, the drugs are safely incinerated by the DEA.
It’s encouraging that more Americans are understanding that removing old prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers and bedside tables reduces accidents, thefts and abuse. Take-Back events also raise awareness of the opioid epidemic and offer the public a safe and anonymous way to help lessen the risk of substance abuse.
Morris County locations for October’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day are as follows:
Stop and Shop Supermarket
245 Littleton Road
Morris Plains
Cedar Knolls Shop-Rite
178 East Hanover Ave.
Hanover Township
ACME Supermarket
690 Millbrook Road
Randolph
Those unable to make this date can log on to http://safehealthymorris.org/dropbox/ for a list of permanent drop box locations nearest them.