Displaying some of the prescription drugs already collected are, from left, DEA Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski, Freeholder Patricia Sebold, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., ADAPT coordinator Joel Torres, Assembly speaker emeritus Sheila Oliver, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, North Caldwell Police Chief Mark Deuer and West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Division of Community Health and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. joined April 13 with the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team, the Essex County Police Chief’s Association and the Essex County Crime Prevention Officers Association to announce plans for Drug Take Back Day and raise awareness about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse. Drug Take Back Day will be held in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29, at 15 permanent collection sites and five temporary collection sites at local municipal police departments throughout Essex County.
“Some of the most dangerous substances in your home are the unused prescription and over-the-counter medication in your bathroom closet. Youth may sneak pills and use them out of curiosity, but there is a real danger that this could lead to more severe drug abuse,” DiVincenzo said in a press release. “Ridding your homes of unused prescription medication and dangerous drugs is a simple and important safety measure we can all take. Using the collections sites ensures your unwanted pills are not used improperly and will be destroyed in an environmentally friendly manner. We encourage the public to join us on Drug Take Back Day.”
“We ask that residents clean out their medicine cabinet and visit their nearest permanent or temporary prescription medication collection site to discard their old or unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications,” ADAPT coordinator Joel Torres said in the release. “The Take Back Day and the permanent collection sites provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of medications while educating the general public about the potential for the abuse of medications.”
ADAPT, the Essex County Division of Community Health, and the DEA formed partnerships with 20 municipal police departments to serve as collection sites. Although officials urged the public to participate in Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29, the permanent collection sites are open year-round so unwanted medications can be safely discarded at the public’s convenience.
The permanent collection locations, which are open year-round, are: Belleville Police Department, 152 Washington Ave.; Bloomfield Police Department, 1 Municipal Plaza; Caldwell Police Department, 1 Provost Square; East Orange Police Department, 15 South Munn Ave.; Fairfield Police Department, 230 Fairfield Road; Glen Ridge Police Department, 3 Herman St.; Irvington Police Department, 1 Civic Square; Livingston Police Department, 333 South Livingston Ave.; Millburn Police Department, 435 Essex St.; Montclair Police Department, 647 Bloomfield Ave.; Newark Police Department, 480 Clinton Ave.; North Caldwell Police Department, 136 Gould Ave.; Nutley Police Department, 228 Chestnut St.; Orange Police Department, 29 Park St.; and West Orange Police Department, 60 Main St.
The temporary collection locations, which will be open on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., are: Cedar Grove Police Department, 525 Pompton Ave.; Maplewood Police Department, 1618 Springfield Ave.; South Orange Police Department, 201 South Orange Ave.; Verona Police Department, 600 Bloomfield Ave.; and West Caldwell Police Department, 21 Clinton Road.
Residents can dispose of their unused prescription drug medication by placing it in the marked collection sites. Dropping off medication is anonymous and safe. Residents should remove any identifying information from the medication containers, such as their name, address, telephone number and doctor’s name. Medications that are collected are brought to a licensed facility where they are safely disposed.
For additional information, call 973-323-3907.
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