Aberdeen Police Take Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs April 28

ABERDEEN, NJ — On Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Aberdeen Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 15th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your pills for disposal to the VFW Guadalcanal Post #4745 located at 699 Cliffwood Ave. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Residents are reminded that they can also drop off medication at the department’s permanent drop off box located at police headquarters at One Aberdeen Square 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last October, Americans turned in 912,305 pounds of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 9 pounds—more than 4,508 tons—of pills. In the October event, New Jersey alone collected 14,527 pounds of unwanted medication, with 177 participating state and local police departments, making this bi-annual Take Back Initiative an enormous success and a great benefit to our communities.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website or contact Detective Sgt. Michael O’Dwyer at 732-583-4200 ext. 202.

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