Morris Prosecutor: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 29

Published on April 26, 2017

Event banner showing photo of RX pills(PNG, 14KB)The Morris County Prosecutor's Office is urging county residents to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday at locations across Morris County.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day has 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. Prescription drugs are not always easy for people to dispose of, but the importance of properly cleaning out medicine cabinets can't be overestimated.

Morris County Prosecutor's logoThis year's Take-Back Day takes place on Saturday, April 29. The Prosecutor's Office is participating at three locations in Morris Plains, Morris Township, and Randolph, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in cooperation with those local police departments.

The event is 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 Police Chief Jason A. Kohn, Morris Township Police Chief John McGuinness and Randolph Police Chief David Stokoe.

There also will be collection points located in Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Chester Township, Florham Park, Harding, Jefferson, Mendham Township, Parsippany, and at Picatinny Arsenal, plus neighboring towns to Morris County, including Bedminster, Hopatcong, and Wayne. You can search for a dropoff location near where you live.

photo of previous drug drop off day featuring three officers and bags filled with collected drugs(JPG, 8KB) Previous RX collection day in Morris County

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, Knapp said. Curbing the abuse of medications not only benefits individuals, but benefits society as a whole.

This is a very important tool in our battle against opiate and heroin addiction,'' said Morris County Freeholder Tom Mastrangelo, the county governing board's liaison on law and public safety matters. We urge our residents to get rid of unwanted prescriptions, and we thank Prosecutor Knapp and our local police for their efforts.''

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 at last year's Take-Back Day throughout the country. About 726 pounds of medicines were collected in Morris County and 18,000 pounds were collected in New Jersey. Once collected, the medication is 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.photo showing RX bottles(JPG, 12KB)

Morris County locations for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day are as follows:

  • Stop and Shop Supermarket, 245 Littleton Road, Morris Plains
  • Morris Township Municipal Parking Lot (Next to Tiff's Grill and Ale House), 191 Speedwell Ave., Morris 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.

Inquiries should be directed to Public Information Officer Fred Snowflack at (973) 829-8159 or at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us.

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