DEA to accept electronic vaping devices and cartridges at the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
NEWARK, N.J. – In 2018, more than 3,100 people died from suspected drug overdoses across New Jersey. On Saturday, October 26, the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an attempt to cut down on those deaths. Residents of New Jersey can clean out their medicine cabinets of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications. This Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiative gives residents a way to safely dispose of those medications anonymously and with no questions asked.
“While this is the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this is actually the 19th time this is being held in New Jersey,” said DEA New Jersey Division Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson. “The DEA New Jersey Division and some of our partners began this program in New Jersey in 2009. It is from this initiative that the national program was born in 2010. In that time, New Jersey residents have surrendered more than 260,000 pounds (or 130 tons) of unused medications.”
For the first time, DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop off locations during the Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.
Many concerns have been raised lately across the United States over illnesses and death caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. In an effort to support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially amongst Americas’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.
Nationally, DEA has collected more than 11 million pounds (almost 6,000 tons) of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications. Law enforcement partners are continuing to register for the upcoming Take Back Day. There are currently 198 police departments across 217 collection sights in New Jersey that will be participating in the collection on October 26. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539.
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