Drug Take-Back Day To Be Sponsored By Howell Alliance And Police

HOWELL, NJ — Overdose deaths in the United States reached a new high last year, with over 100,000 reported in the 12-month period ending April 2021.

The Howell Alliance and the Howell Police Department are hosting their own event in response to the DEA's National Drug Take-Back Day.

On Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Howell police station will serve as a drop-off location for unwanted, unused and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. “The drop-off is anonymous, no questions asked,” said Christa Riddle, the Howell Alliance coordinator.

“We had 62 overdoses in Howell last year, including 9 fatalities and 53 non-fatalities, which is up from 45 in 2020,” Riddle said. It was the first year that overdoses in Howell had increased since 2018.

According to a DEA report, the majority of overdoses are caused by opioids and synthetic opioids such as prescription pain relievers, heroin, and fentanyl. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are frequently discovered by teenagers in their home medicine cabinets or on a kitchen shelf.

The goal of the Drug Take-Back Day event is to keep those medications out of the wrong hands and to prevent misuse and substance use disorders, said Riddle.

Keep in mind that batteries must be removed from e-cigarettes before dropping them off and needles and syringes will not be accepted.

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