500 Pounds Of Drugs Collected From Operation Take Back 2020

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ - Making up for lost time, the fall Operation Take Back initiative took in more 500 pounds of prescription drugs at the end of October.

Operation Take Back is typically held bi-annually in the spring and autumn. However, due to the COVID-19 health emergency, no collection was held this past spring. Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, Hanover Township Chief of Police Mark Roddy, Morris Township Chief of Police Mark DiCarlo, Morris Plains Chief of Police Michael Koroski, and Randolph Township Chief of Police David Stokoe all aided in the coordination of the Oct. 24 event.

Residents of Morris County were able to bring unused or expired prescription drugs to three designated locations, Shoprite of Greater Morristown in Hanover Township, the ACME Supermarket in Randolph, and the Stop and Shop Supermarket in Morris Plains. All drugs collected at the sites were weighed and properly destroyed by law enforcement officials.

The total weight in drugs collected from each location are as follows:

• Shoprite of Greater Morristown: 84 pounds
• Stop and Shop of Morris Plains: 181 pounds
• ACME of Randolph: 237 pounds
• Total: 502 pounds

Last year, Operation Take Back collections held in April and October in Morris County locations yielded a combined 975 pounds.

“Given the consistently high yields that Operation Take Back in Morris County has collected, this proves to be much-needed community service," Carroll said. "Even during a health emergency, our residents utilized this event to take an active role in combatting prescription drug misuse and abuse. I would like to thank our law enforcement and commercial partners for making this such a productive day.”

Those unable to drop off your medication, there are permanent drop box locations.

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