By: centraljersey.com
Everyone has seen it – medicine cabinets filled with expired prescription medications, old pills and even older cough syrup.
While most know that these medications can be dangerous, nearly everyone knows that simply pouring them down the toilet isn’t an option.
On Sept. 25, people will have no excuse to not empty their medicine cabinets.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. police stations throughout the area will take part in Operation Take Back New Jersey, in which people are invited to bring their old, uneeded and expired medications by to be safely disposed of.
The Lawrence Township Police Department will be one of the collection sites. Department headquarters are located at 2211 Lawrence Road."The medications and prescription drugs are going to be disposed of properly by the DEA," said Princeton Township Police Sgt. Ernie Silagyi. "A lot of people are reluctant to flush them because they’re concerned about them getting into the drinking water system."
Sgt. Silagyi said having the medications pile up in homes can be a dangerous temptation to youngsters who don’t know any better.
"They easily accessible to juveniles that may live in the house or may be visiting the house," said Sgt. Silagyi. "If all the medicine cabinets are cleaned out of unwanted medications it can prevent these medications from fall into hands of juveniles."
Area residents who want to dispose of their medications can do so at the Lawrence police headquarters, as well as the Princeton Township Police Department, 1 Valley Road, Princeton; the Princeton Borough Police Department, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton; and the West Windsor Township Police Department, 333 North Post Road, Princeton Junction.
All medications will be collected, however, no syringes or sharps will be accepted. All medicine will be accepted anonymously.
Sgt. Silagyi said Princeton Township collected 67 pounds of unused or expired medication last year Operation Take Back New jersey is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division. Last year, the program collected ore than 9,000 pounds of unwanted medicine.
For more information or to find a drop off site near you, visit www.operationtakebacknj.com.

