65 Pounds Of Drugs Collected At Parsippany Take-Back Event

PARSIPPANY, NJ — The numbers are in. The Parsippany Police Department took back 65 pounds of unused and unwanted prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Law enforcement agencies around the nation set up sites to collect prescription drugs. During the April 2021 event, agencies collected nearly 840,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs.

The Morris County Prosecutor's Office — in partnership with four local police departments — collected 408 pounds of drugs last weekend, including 185 pounds at ShopRite of Greater Morristown.

If you were unable to make it, here's where to find a year-round drug take-back site.

Each year, millions of people misuse prescription pain relievers, stimulants, tranquilizers and sedatives.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives that year.

The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet.

More than 96,700 people died from opioid-involved overdoses during the 12-month period ending in March 2021, according to provisional estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on items not accepted during take-back events, including the disposal of sharps and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

Given the ongoing pandemic, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency also have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs without leaving home.

Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Parsippany Patch Facebook page.