NJ Residents Turned in Almost 18,000 Pounds of Expired, Unwanted Prescriptions

NEWARK — Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, announced that this past weekend’s National Prescription Take Back Day resulted in the collection and destruction of 17,785 pounds, or 8.8 tons, of expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions throughout New Jersey. Nationally, more than 893,000 pounds or 447 tons of prescription medications were collected. This was the 11th National Take Back Day sponsored by the DEA.
Throughout New Jersey on Sat., April 30, 2016, 222 police departments participated in the collection of the expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions throughout the state. Residents were able to come to the various drop-off locations to safely dispose of these potentially dangerous prescription drugs. The ten previous Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2015 resulted in 5.5 million pounds or 2,762 tons of unwanted medication collected. New Jersey residents surrendered more than 156,000 pounds or 78 tons of medication during that time frame.
“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,” said Special Agent in Charge Kotowski. “Removal of these medications from the home reduces the temptation for family members to misuse and abuse them.”
Every day approximately 120 people die from a drug overdose, about half from prescription opioids and heroin. Prescription opioid abusers in many instances will transition to heroin use and abuse.
On Mon., 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.