MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Mercer County residents can get rid of unused and expired prescription drugs at a drive-up collection event on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office is holding the event as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot across from the Mercer County Administration Building at 640 S. Broad St. in Trenton.
Residents can drive up and drop off pills with no questions asked, Sheriff Jack Kemler said. The goal is to help people clear out old medicine cabinets, especially outdated opioid painkillers and other medications that are easy to misuse.
"It is important to remove unneeded and expired medications from your home to help prevent accidental overdose, misuse, and addiction," Kemler said.
Proper disposal also protects the environment, officials said. Medicines flushed down the drain can eventually make their way into local drinking water supplies.
"Make it a point to check your medicine cabinet and help make our local communities safer and healthier," Kemler added.
The event will also accept vape pens and other e-cigarette devices, but only if the batteries have been removed first.
Organizers cannot accept syringes, sharp instruments, liquid medications or solutions.
The Sheriff's Office runs the program with other law enforcement agencies in the region, in partnership with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
For more information, call the Sheriff's Office Programs Section at 609-278-7159.
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