Councilman Arvin Amatorio Encourages Residents to Anonymously Drop off Prescription Drugs on National Take Back Day this Saturday

BERGENFIELD, NJ — This Saturday marks National Take Back Day in America, a day dedicated to ending or preventing the cycle of opioid addiction by mobilizing residents to discard prescription pills that have expired or are no longer needed, in an effort to combat addiction. Bergenfield Councilman Arvin Amatorio is reminding residents that if they are unsure how to dispose of these drugs, they can anonymously deposit them directly in a receptacle located in Borough Hall 365 days a year.

“As we all know, the opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic affects communities everywhere, and encouraging residents to properly dispose of potentially addictive pain prescription pills greatly reduces the risks of the person receiving the prescription, or a friend or family member, falling prey to addiction,” said Bergenfield Councilman Arvin Amatorio. “These Take Back Days truly work, and around the country we have seen people get rid of prescription pills that may otherwise have been abused by themselves or their family members. I encourage any resident who has unneeded pills to safely dispose of them, so why not do so Saturday, or today, even.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s National Take Back initiative began in September, 2010. Since its inception, more than 9 million pounds of pills have been collected during Take Back events.