Drop-off sites are located throughout Hunterdon and Somerset counties.
Drop-off points are being set up throughout Hunterdon and Somerset counties for people to get rid of unused or expired prescription drugs on National Take-Back Day, Sept. 26.
The effort, sponsored locally by Hunterdon Prevention Resources and the Safe Communities Coalition of Hunterdon and Somerset, aims to reduce heroin and prescription drug abuse.
"Many who are abusing prescription drugs move to heroin as it is a cheaper alternative," the agencies said in a press release.
The take-back effort is promoted nationally by the Drug Enforcement Agency, and has gained support from the Prosecutors' and Sheriffs' offices in both Hunterdon and Somerset counties, along with local police departments.
Following are the drop-off sites for unwanted medicines. Hours for the drop-off are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Liquids, syringes, and illegal substances are not accepted.
Hunterdon County
Justice Center, 65 Park Ave., Flemington; Tewksbury Township Police Department, 167 Old Turnpike Road, Califon; Frenchtown Police Department, 27 Second St., Frenchtown; Holland Township Police Department, 61 Church Road, Milford; Lambertville Police Department, 349 N. Main St., Lambertville; Readington Township Police Department, 507 Route 523, Whitehouse Station; Flemington Police Department, 100 Main St., Flemington; High Bridge Police Department, 99 W. Main St., High Bridge; West Amwell Police Department, 24 Mt. Airy Village Road, Lambertville; Franklin Township Police Department,202 Sidney Road, Pittstown
For more information, contact Paige Meade, chair of the Safe Coalition's Hunterdon Rx Drug Workgroup, at 908-782-3909 ext. 111.
Somerset County
Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Warren Township Public Works Garage, 1 Brady Road, Somerville; Bernards Township Police Department, 1 Collyer Lane, Basking Ridge; Branchburg Police Department, 590 Old York Road at Route 202 north, Branchburg; Franklin Township Police Department, 495 Demott Lane, Somerset; Hillsborough Township Police Department, 379 South Branch Road, Hillsborough; North Plainfield Police Department, 263 Somerset St., North Plainfield; Montgomery Township Police Department, 2261 US Route 206, Belle Mead; Manville Police Department, 2 North Main St., Manville; Peapack & Gladstone Police Department, 1 School St., Peapack; Watchung Police Department, 840 Somerset St., Watchung
For more information, contact Cheryl Torres, chair of the Safe Coalition's Somerset Rx Drug Workgroup, at 908-722-4900.
RELATED: In Hunterdon, 600 pounds of unwanted drugs in 2014
"Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat," said DEA acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg. "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse."
The initiative "addresses a vital public safety and public health issue," said Hunterdon Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III. "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."
Somerset Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano thanked people in advance for taking advantage of the opportunity to clear out their medicine chests. "By doing so, we solve our areas of concern: accidental child ingestion, youth abuse and experimentation, improper or accidental use by adults, and pollution of water supplies."
Over the last 6 years, the Somerset County Sheriff's Office has collected nearly 7,000 pounds of medicine for proper disposal.
Lesley Gabel, co-executive director of Hunterdon Prevention Resources and the Safe Communities Coalition, stressed the importance of the take-back effort. "Seventy percent of people who abuse prescription drugs start by abusing the medication in their friends' and families' medicine cabinets," she said.
In the 10 previous national Take-Back Day events, the DEA, in conjunction with state and local law enforcement partners, collected about 4.1 million pounds of prescription medications nationwide, and 140,000 pounds in New Jersey.
New drop-off locations are added regularly. To find out if there is a take-back location closer to your home, visit the DEA website. Most of the locations above are permanent collection sites and can be visited during normal working business hours for dropping off prescription drugs.
Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find The Hunterdon County Democrat on Facebook.
