260 Pounds Of Pills Collected In Mercer Co. During Drug Take Back Day

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – Last Saturday’s drug take-back day in Mercer County saw the Sheriff’s office collect a record of 260 pounds of unused and expired prescription medication.

The medications disposed of ranged from everyday prescriptions to addictive opioids, the Sheriff’s office said.

"The Sheriff's Office's Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects my commitment to the safety and health of residents, encouraging everyone to remove unneeded medications from their homes to prevent misuse and addiction from ever starting," said Sheriff Jack Kemler.

The drop-off event, sponsored twice a year by the Sheriff's Office, was held at the County Administration Building in Trenton on Oct. 29. This is the safest, fastest, and easiest way to dispose of old and unused medications from drug cabinets.

While the agency does not keep formal records on the amounts of prescription drugs collected over the years, Saturday’s event appears to be a record for the disposal of unused and expired drugs, besting last year’s event where over 150 pounds of drugs were collected.

The prescription drugs were turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and destroyed.

For more information on prescription drug disposal initiatives, contact the Mercer County Sheriff's Office Programs Section at 609-278-7159.

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