New Jersey Residents Turn In Almost 16,000 Pounds Of Unused Prescriptions
NEWARK, N.J. - - Carl J. Kotowski, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, announced that New Jersey residents turned in 15,929 pounds or 7.9 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions during National Prescription Take Back Day on April 29. Nationally, 900,386 pound or 450 tons of prescription medications were collected. This was the 13th National Take Back Day sponsored by the DEA.
Throughout New Jersey on April 29th, police departments participated in the collection of the expired, unused, and unwanted prescriptions. Residents were able to come to the various drop-off locations to safely dispose of these potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Over the course of the 13 Take Back Day events New Jersey residents surrendered more than 202,000 pounds or 101 tons of medications.
Special Agent in Charge Kotowski said, “I am very proud of the residents of New Jersey who played a part in reducing the available supply of unused prescription drugs. Cleaning out our medicine cabinets reduces the temptation to abuse prescriptions, especially prescription pain killers. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from the medicine cabinet by family and friends.”
DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg said, “Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in - safely and anonymously - a record amount of prescription drugs.”
DEA’s next National Prescription Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28.
