DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24

SOMERVILLE NJ – Somerset County Sheriff Darrin J. Russo announced that the19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  A Sheriff’s Officer will be posted in front of the Somerset County Administration Office, located at 20 Grove St., Somerville 08876, to collect dated, unwanted or unused medicine.

The service is free of charge, no questions asked. National Take-Back Day is a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs, which helps to prevent drug thefts, abuse and overdoses.

The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.

“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”

Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1.

DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com.

“We need to continue our efforts in prevention, safety and education for our Somerset County residents”. “Working together we can achieve victory against drug abuse”, said Sheriff Russo”.

Municipal Medicine Collection Drop Boxes:

For the convenience of residents, additional medicine collection drop boxes are located at the participating municipalities, including:

• Bernards Township Police Department, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, 908-766-1122 (7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; after hours, use the phone in the station house);
• Bound Brook Police Department lobby, 226 Hamilton St., Bound Brook, NJ 08805, 732-356-0800,
• Branchburg Police Department, 590 Old York Road at Route 202 North, Branchburg, NJ 08876, 908-526-3830,
• Franklin Township Police Department, 495 DeMott Lane, Somerset, NJ 08873, 732-873-5533,
• Hillsborough Township Police Department, 379 S. Branch Rd., Hillsborough NJ 08844, 908-369-4323,
• North Plainfield Police Department, 263 Somerset St., North Plainfield, NJ 07060, 908-769-2937,
• Raritan Borough Police Department, 20 1st St, Raritan, NJ 08869, 908-725-6700
• Warren Township Police Department, 44 Mountain Blvd., and Warren, NJ 07059, 908-753-1146.

For more information regarding medicine collection in Somerset County, contact Sheriff’s Officer Joe Bialiy at 908-231-7140, ext. 9, or Captain Steve SanAntonio at 908-231-7168.

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