Drug Take-Back: Clean Out Unused Medications At Howell Event

HOWELL, NJ — National Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 29 and the Howell Alliance and Howell Police Department are joining forces to encourage residents to clean out their old prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.

Drop off unused medications and e-cigarettes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Police Department, 300 Old Tavern Road, Howell.

Each spring and fall, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration holds its Take-Back Day nationwide in an effort to keep unwanted, unused and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications out of the wrong hands. This pills often lead to misuse - which can then cause substance use disorders.

Electronic cigarettes can also be disposed of at the DEA collection.

The drop-off is anonymous, no questions asked. Remove or black out your name, if you would like. Batteries must be removed from e-cigarettes before drop-off. Needles and syringes cannot be accepted. Illegal drugs are not being collected, the township said.

Deaths from misused prescription drugs is a real concern for the country as a whole:

Drug overdose deaths reached a record high last year, with 100,000-pls overdoses reported nationwide during the 12-month span ending April 2021, according to Christa Riddle of the Howell Alliance.

Most overdoses were from opioids and synthetic opioids, such as prescription pain medications, heroin and fentanyl.

Misusing pain medications prescribed for the individual or someone else can lead to opioid addiction, she said in a news release. There were also rises in overdoses from methamphetamines and cocaine during the 12-month period above.

For more information on proper medication disposal in Howell year-round, visit the Howell Alliance's website.

The website provides information on Project Medicine Drop (available 24/7 anonymously in the Howell Township Police Department lobby at 300 Old Tavern Road in Howell); at-home pick-up by a Howell police officer; DisposeRx at-home disposal packets to keep on hand (available for free through the Alliance), and safe needle disposal options.

For questions or more information, contact Christa Riddle, Howell Alliance Coordinator, at 732-938-4500 ext. 4012 or criddle@twp.howell.nj.us.