Police Collecting Unneeded Medication for Disposal This Weekend

Later this month, the Cedar Grove and Verona Police Departments will be hosting an Operation Take Back New Jersey local collection site as part of Operation Take Back New Jersey's Medicine Disposal Day, an initiative spearheaded by the New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Municipal Building, 525 Pompton Ave., in Cedar Grove, and at Police Headquarters, 600 Bloomfield Ave., Verona. Residents can bring unneeded, unwanted or expired medication to the sites, where they will be properly disposed of.

This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine.

The Operation Take Back New Jersey Initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, 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, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both potential safety and health hazards.

Many New Jersey Police Departments are participating in the effort. Residents looking for more information on the program should visit dea.gov.

Please contact Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet or Lt. Joseph Cirasa at 973-239-4100 if you have any questions or need assistance.