Drop Off Unwanted, Expired Prescription Drugs on Oct. 29

Start clearing out the medicine cabinet now. Local police departments will once again participate in Operation Take Back NJ on Saturday, Oct. 29. This statewide effort aims to collect and destroy outdated or no-longer-needed prescription medications before they fall into the wrong hands. 

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high—more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined."

The DEA has stated, "Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet." So, even if nobody in your own family abuses prescription drugs, you still have to worry about people who visit for social occasions, your children's friends, workers who come to your house—really, anyone who uses your bathroom.
 
The drop-off is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Just stop by the on Clinton Road or the at Provost Square on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Patch is waiting to confirm with North Caldwell, which has participated in the past.)

More than 14,000 pounds of medications were dropped off last fall. For more information on Operation Take Back NJ, visit www.operationtakebacknj.com.