By Jennifer Amato
Staff Writer
Local police departments collected dozens of pounds of expired and unwanted prescription drugs during a national effort last month.
The South Brunswick Police Department collected 81 pounds, according to Police Capt. James Ryan, while the North Brunswick Police Department collected two large garbage bags full of medication, according to Police Capt. Brian Hoiberg, during the 11th National Prescription Take Back Day on April 30.
The collection was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
In New Jersey, the collection resulted in the total destruction of 17,785 pounds, or 8.8 tons, of expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions, Carl J. Kotowski, special agent in charge of the DEA’s New Jersey Division, announced in a prepared statement.
Nationally, more than 893,000 pounds or 447 tons of prescription medications were collected.
The ten previous Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-15 resulted in 5.5 million pounds or 2,762 tons of unwanted medication collected, according to the DEA. New Jersey residents surrendered more than 156,000 pounds or 78 tons of medication during that timeframe.
“It is very encouraging that New Jersey residents continue to play a vital role in removing these unused prescription medications from their homes, especially the prescription opioids. Removal of these medications from the home reduces the temptation for family members to misuse and abuse them,” Kotowski said in the statement.
Everyday, approximately 120 people die from a drug overdose, about half from prescription opioids and heroin, according to the DEA. Prescription opioid abusers in many instances will transition to heroin use and abuse.
On May 2, members of the DEA’s New Jersey Division and members of the New Jersey National Guard Counterdrug Task Force collected the turned in medications and had them incinerated.