Dispose Of Old, Unwanted Medicine Near Newark: Here's Where

Newark NJ

28 April, 2022

7:02 AM

Description

NEWARK, NJ — There will be multiple sites in Essex County open for the 2022 "Drug Take Back Day" on Saturday, April 30. In solidarity with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration's annual Drug Take Back Day, there will be several places where people can safely dispose of old or unwanted prescription medication. Bringing medication to the collection locations is free and anonymous, according to a news release from Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., the Essex County Board of County Commissioners, the Essex County Division of Community Health and Family Connections' ADAPT Coalition. Residents should remove any identifying information from the medication containers, such as their name, address, telephone number and doctor's name. Medications that are collected are brought to a licensed facility where they are safely disposed. For additional information, call 973-675-3817. The temporary collection locations, which will be open on Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., include: Cedar Grove Police Department, 525 Pompton Avenue, Cedar GoveEssex Fells Police Department, 255 Roseland Ave (Rear of Building), Essex FellsWest Caldwell Police Department, 21 Clinton Road, West Caldwell However, there are permanent collection sites throughout Essex County that accept drops all year. They include the Newark Police Department at 22 Franklin Street. Other year-round sites include: Belleville Police Department, 152 Washington Avenue, BellevilleBloomfield Police Department, 1 Municipal Plaza, BloomfieldCaldwell Police Department, 1 Provost Square, CaldwellEast Orange Police Department, 15 South Munn Avenue, East OrangeFairfield Police Department, 230 Fairfield Road, FairfieldGlen Ridge Police Department, 3 Herman Street, Glen RidgeIrvington Police Department, 1 Civic Square, IrvingtonLivingston Police Department, 333 South Livingston Avenue, LivingstonMaplewood Police Department, 1618 Springfield Avenue, MaplewoodMillburn Police Department, 435 Essex Street, MillburnMontclair Police, Department, 647 Bloomfield Avenue, MontclairMontclair State University Police Department, 1 Normal Avenue, MontclairNewark Police Department, 22 Franklin Street, NewarkNorth Caldwell Police Department, 136 Gould Avenue, North CaldwellNutley Police Department, 228 Chestnut Street, NutleyOrange Police Department, 29 Park Street, OrangeSouth Orange Police Department, 201 South Orange Avenue, South OrangeVerona Police Department, 600 Bloomfield Avenue, VeronaWest Orange Police Department, 60 Main Street, West Orange "Some of the most dangerous substances in your home are the unused prescription and over the counter medication in your bathroom closet. Youth may sneak pills and use them out of curiosity, but there is a real danger that this could lead to more severe drug abuse," DiVincenzo said. "Ridding your homes of unused prescription medication and dangerous drugs is a simple and important safety measure we can all take. Using the collections sites ensures your unwanted pills are not used improperly and will be destroyed in an environmentally friendly manner. We encourage the public to join us on Drug Take Back Day," he added. "All of us have drugs in our homes that are within reach to anyone who enters the home. We all have to do our part to keep everyone safe," Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss said. "Prescription drug abuse and misuse is an epidemic, and we are pleased that Essex County is a leader in opioid abuse prevention. Drug Take Back Day and the year-round collection boxes are a grassroots initiative that has proven to be effective," said Joel Torres, ADAPT Coalition Manager. "At Family Connections, we try to instill hope and opportunity to all who come for service. We also try to bring hope to the community, and ADAPT does that in a very special way through partnerships with Essex County and our law enforcement community," Family Connections Executive Director Jacques Hryshko said. "Today is also a celebration of the program that is now been held for the last 10 years. In that time, over 15 tons of prescription medication has been collected and disposed of," he added. "Your home medicine cabinet is very accessible for anyone who enters your home. That is how drug misuse begins and that's why it's important to secure your prescription drugs and clean out your medicine cabinet. Government and law enforcement will continue to do our part; we ask the community to do their part an turn in their unwanted medication," said Timothy McMahon, Group Supervisor for Special Support Unit with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration, NJ Division. "This is a life changing mission that we are proudly of partner with ADAPT. We have experienced many success stories, but there is still so much work that has to be done. The Essex County Police Chiefs Association is committed to continuing with prevention strategies such as this," said East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi, who is President of the Essex County Police Chiefs Association. Send local news tips and correction requests to [email protected]. Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.