On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Hopewell Township Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 10th opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring pills for disposal to the Hopewell Township Police Department at 201 Washington Crossing Pennington Road. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons — more than 617,000 pounds — of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners.
When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 4.8 million pounds — more than 2,400 tons — of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans now are advised their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Contact the Hopewell Township Police Department at 609-737-3100 for further information or with any questions.
