Many new heroin users start their drug addiction with prescription pain medication, said the DEA.
FLEMINGTON - New Jersey is home to more than 128,000 heroin users and many new users start with prescription pain medication, according to the state Drug Enforcement Agency.
In an effort to reduce the availability of such medications, the Safe Communities Coalition of Somerset and Hunterdon counties are asking residents to dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired drugs Saturday during National Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Locations in Somerset can be found here. Drop off points in Hunterdon are listed here.
The DEA said that all too often opioid addiction start in the form of a tragic progression from prescription painkillers to the cheaper alternative of heroin, which effects the same region of the brain, it was stated in the news release.
Get rid of unwanted medicine in Hunterdon on April 29
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control released vital statistics stating that those addicted to opioids are 40 times more likely to be addicted to heroin. Furthermore, it stated that nearly all people who use heroin also used at least one other drug, such as marijuana and alcohol.
"Many abusers of prescription drugs obtain their drugs from the medicine cabinets and kitchen cabinets of their own family and/or friend's homes," said Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, who has been in the forefront in the fight to curb opioid addiction, in a statement.
"This is why it is so important to properly dispose of unused prescription drugs in your homes and why participating in this program is so valuable to the community of Somerset County. I thank the DEA and all the law enforcement partners who participate in this vital program to help our communities."
Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns, III added: "This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."
In the previous Take-Back Day events, the DEA, in conjunction with our state and local law enforcement partners, collected about 5.5 million pounds of prescription medications nationwide, with over 140,000 pounds collected in New Jersey, officials said.
Liquids, syringes and illegal substances are not accepted at the drop offs.
For more information on the Coalition, go to www.safecoalition.org, the DEA website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ or Facebook at www.facebook.com/SafeCommunitiesCoalition.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.