Get Rid Of Prescription Medicine At Drug Take Back Event In Howell

HOWELL, NJ — If you have medications in your home that you no longer need, Howell Township police will be collecting them Saturday as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The collection event aims to get unneeded prescription medication out of medicine cabinets and homes to keep it out of the hands of those who may misuse or abuse them, and is led by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

People who have tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs that are expired or just not needed can drop them off Saturday at the Project Medicine Box at police headquarters, 300 Old Tavern Road, the Howell Alliance said.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

Vaping devices will be accepted provided that the lithium batteries have been removed.

The collection is anonymous — people dropping off medication can remove prescription labels from containers.

For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications — those that are old, unwanted, or expired — that too often become a gateway to addiction.

In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed 19.2 million pounds (9,600 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception.

For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

For information or assistance with mental health, substance abuse prevention or other issues, contact the Howell Alliance at 732-938-4500 ext. 4012 or check the alliance webpage on the Howell Township website.