Essex Residents Urged to Safely Discard Unused Medicines at Drug Take Back Day – TAPinto.net

ESSEX COUNTY AREA, NJ — In conjunction with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), the Essex County Police Chief’s Association, the Essex County Crime Prevention Officers Association and the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Essex County Division of Community Health and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. are offering the opportunity for all residents to safely discard unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications during Saturday’s “Drug Take Back Day” event to be held in various locations throughout the county.

As part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Day’s effort to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse, 16 permanent collection sites and four temporary collection sites will be open on Saturday at several local municipal police departments.

“Some of the most dangerous substances in your home are the unused prescription and over the counter medication in your bathroom closet,” said DiVincenzo. “Youth may sneak pills and use them out of curiosity, but there is a real danger that this could lead to more severe drug abuse. Ridding your homes of unused prescription medication and dangerous drugs is a simple and important safety measure we can all take.”

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Using the collections sites ensures that unwanted pills are not used improperly, DiVincenzo explained. Those dropped off will be destroyed in an environmentally friendly manner.

“Prescription drug abuse and misuse is an epidemic, and we are pleased that Essex County is a leader in opioid abuse prevention,” said Joel Torres, ADAPT Coalition Manager. “Drug Take Back Day and the year-round collection boxes have proven to be effective, with over 4,000 pounds of pills collected last year.”

Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens said that although many people think of illegal drugs when they thing of “drug problems,” there is a “great deal of abuse of prescription drugs, and it’s a real epidemic.”

“We need to get drugs out of the home and off the streets so young people don’t experiment with them. It’s a whole different world today and we have to do all we can to protect or population,” said Susan Gibson, Special Agent in Charge with the DEA.

According to Dennis Gonzalez, Executive Officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New Jersey began this concept of having collection sites “to remove drugs from the home.”

“You’d be surprised how many people say their addiction started by taking pills out of curiosity or on a dare,” he said. “We need to do all we can to get drugs away from children.”

ADAPT, the Essex County Division of Community Health, and the DEA formed partnerships with 20 municipal police departments to serve as collection sites. Although officials urged the public to participate in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th, the permanent collection sites are open year-round so unwanted medications can be safely discarded at the public’s convenience.

The permanent collection locations, which are open year-round, are as follows:

  • Belleville Police Department, 152 Washington Avenue, Belleville
  • Bloomfield Police Department, 1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield
  • Caldwell Police Department, 1 Provost Square, Caldwell
  • East Orange Police Department, 15 South Munn Avenue, East Orange
  • Fairfield Police Department, 230 Fairfield Road, Fairfield
  • Glen Ridge Police Department, 3 Herman Street, Glen Ridge
  • Irvington Police Department, 1 Civic Square, Irvington
  • Livingston Police Department, 333 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston
  • Millburn Police Department, 435 Essex Street, Millburn
  • Montclair Police, Department, 647 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
  • Newark Police Department, 480 Clinton Avenue, Newark
  • North Caldwell Police Department, 136 Gould Avenue, North Caldwell
  • Nutley Police Department, 228 Chestnut Street, Nutley
  • Orange Police Department, 29 Park Street, Orange
  • Verona Police Department, 600 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
  • West Orange Police Department, 60 Main Street, West Orange

The temporary collection locations, which will be open on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., are as follows:

  • Cedar Grove Police Department, 525 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
  • Maplewood Police Department, 1618 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood
  • South Orange Police Department, 201 South Orange Avenue, South Orange
  • West Caldwell Police Department, 21 Clinton Road, West Caldwell

Residents can dispose of their unused prescription drug medication by placing it in the marked collection sites. Dropping off medication is anonymous and safe. Residents should remove any identifying information from the medication containers, such as their name, address, telephone number and doctor’s name. Medications that are collected are brought to a licensed facility where they are safely disposed.

For additional information, call 973-323-3907.