Dispose of Unwanted Prescription Medications This Month

For the seventh time since 2010, Hackettstown Police are giving residents an opportunity to get rid of unused, unwanted, expired and potentially dangerous prescription medications in a safe manner.  

Representatives of the department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration will be at Municipal Hall Oct. 26 for a safe drug disposal event. The service is free, anonymous and confidential, according to a department statement. 

Last April, 371 tons—more than 742,000 pounds—of prescription drugs  were collected at 5,800 sites across the country operated by DEA and local law enforcement agencies working in partnership. At the six previous Take Back events, men and women gave more than 2.8 million pounds of pills. 

Officials say the specter of prescription and over-the-counter medicines languishing in home cabinets is a vital public safety and public health issue because the drugs are easily misused and abused. They warn of the dangers of  accidental poisonings and overdoses and note that studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family, friends and the home medicine cabinet.

They say another problem lies in disposing of medications. Flushing substances down the toilet or throwing them in the trash has been shown to pose potential safety and health hazards to the entire community.

Those who drop off their unwanted medications to the law enforcement officers on Take Back Day can do so with the knowledge that the drugs will be disposed of safely.

The event takes place at the Hackettstown Municipal Building on Oct. 26 at 215 Stiger St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.