By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Manville Police Department will take part along with The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.
Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a safe medicine disposal day and open to all residents. It is an opportunity for those who have accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.
Chief Mark Peltack told the public at the Council meeting Monday night that the Manville Police Department will be participating.
”You can turn them into headquarters, no questions asked. So that is the best time to get rid of any unwanted prescription drugs,” he said. Residents can visit headquarters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2 N. Main St. on Saturday.
Manville has participated in the program for three years and this is the fifth time the department is holding the Take Back in the three years. There has been a steady turnout each time it is offered.
This initiative is to encourage residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine. All medicines will be accepted with the exception of syringes.
A statewide effort has the majority of the state’s police departments participating. The program is spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the NY/NJ HIDTA and the New Jersey National Guard.
Sgt. Gazaway said the program has taken off across the state and across the nation. There are times that the medication that is just left behind in the medicine cabinet or in the house is misused or abused by teenagers or people that are not supposed to use it.
Anyone with medicines that are not being used should bring them to the lobby at the police station and they will be properly disposed of. In the last few years Manville residents cleaned out their cabinets and medicine chests to collect over 150 pounds of medicine that was unwanted.
Here are some tips from the American Medicine Chest Challenge:
* Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
* Secure your medicine. Please visit OTCsafety.org for more information.
* Dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine in your home or at an American Medicine Chest Challenge Disposal site.
* Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed. Please visit PhRMA for more information.
* Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse… they are listening. For tips visit The Partnership at DrugFree.Org, NIDA, and StopMedicinceAbuse.com.
For information about the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day program visit www.dea.gov or www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.com.

