FREEHOLD – Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni has teamed up with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey Division and law enforcement agencies across the country for the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The program provides citizens an opportunity to rid their homes of unused, unwanted, or expired medications by disposing of those substances in a safe, non-hazardous manner.
“There is no good reason to hold on to unused prescription medicine ‘just in case.’ A prescription medication sitting in a cabinet or anywhere in your house is simply an invitation for trouble. But don’t toss those pills in the trashcan or flush them into the water system. Turn the medication in. Take a moment to gather up those bottles and dispose of them properly through the DEA Take Back Initiative,” Gramiccioni said.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is an anonymous program aimed at preventing medicines from falling into the hands of juveniles or the illegal drug market in our communities.
“Prescription drugs – especially prescription opiates or painkillers – are a primary source for abuse. That little brown bottle of pills may seem harmless sitting in a medicine cabinet in inside a drawer, but the truth is our children and young adults are seeing those bottles as an opportunity. And the reality is prescription drugs have become the gateway drugs to addiction and fatal overdoses,” Gramiccioni said.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day has cumulatively collected more than 5,525,021 pounds of drugs since its inception in September 2010. Over the same period, from 2010 to 2014, prescription drug overdoses have increased by 348 percent. Heroin-related overdoses have also increased by 113 percent, while all drug-related overdose deaths has increased by slightly more than 113 percent over the exact same period.
“Today, the little brown bottles we keep around the house are killing more people than ever before. The best option available is to dispose of these medicines before they become a bigger or deadlier problem. If you don’t need those drugs, just turn them in,” said Michael Pasterchick, Chief of Detectives at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the former Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA New Jersey.
But a broader look at the situation reveals that between 1999 and 2014 (the latest figures available), the number of people who have died from a prescription painkiller overdose has increased by 539 percent, heroin-related deaths have jumped by 476 percent and all drug-related overdose deaths have increased by 246 percent.
Locally, heroin and opiate-related deaths have seen a more than 222 percent increase since 2010. In Monmouth County someone dies about every four days from a heroin or opiate-related overdose. Monmouth County has had nearly 500 heroin and opiate-related deaths since 2010, at an average of about 80 deaths per year.
Listed below are more than three dozen locations that have been established across Monmouth County to anonymously accept prescription medicines. Please note that sites with an asterisks (*) offer permanent, year-round disposal for prescription medicine.
National Take Back Initiative Collection Sites
Monmouth County
Aberdeen
Aberdeen Municipal Building
1 Aberdeen Square
Aberdeen 07747
Asbury Park
Asbury Park Police Dept.
1 Municipal Plaza
Asbury Park 07712
Atlantic Highlands
Atlantic Highlands Police Dept.
100 First Ave.
Atlantic Highlands 07716
Belmar
Belmar Police Dept.
601 Main St.
Belmar 07719
Bradley Beach
Bradley Beach Police Dept.
701 Main St.
Bradley Beach 07720
Colts Neck
Colts Neck Township Police Dept.*
124 Cedar Drive
Colts Neck 07722
Deal
Deal Police Dept.
110 Brighton Ave.
Deal 07723
Eatontown
Eatontown Police Dept.
47 Broad St.
Eatontown 07724
Englishtown
Englishtown Municipal Building
15 Main St.
Englishtown 07726
Fair Haven
Fair Haven Police Dept.*
35 Fisk Street
Fair Haven 07704
Freehold Borough
Freehold Borough Police Dept.
36 Jackson St.
Freehold 07728
Freehold Township
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office*
2500 Kozloski Road
Freehold 07728
Freehold Twp. Police Dept.
1 Municipal Plaza
Freehold 07728
Freehold Raceway Mall
(Carousel Entrance)
3710 Route 9 South
Freehold 07728
Michael J. Tighe Park
65 Georgia Road
Freehold 07728
Holmdel
Holmdel Police Dept.*
4 Crawfords Corner Road
Holmdel, New Jersey 07733
Howell Township
Howell Township Police Dept.*
4567 Route 9 North
Howell 07731
Keansburg
Keansburg Police Dept.
21 Church St. (rear of building)
Keansburg 07734
McGrath Towers
25 Hancock St.
Keansburg 07734
Fallon Manor
43 Church St.
Keansburg 07734
Grandville Towers
1 Church St.
Keansburg 07734
Keyport
Keyport Police Dept.
70 West Front St.
Keyport 07735
Little Silver
Little Silver Borough Hall
480 Prospect Ave.
Little Silver 07739
Manalapan Township
Manalapan Township Police Dept.*
120 Route 522
Manalapan 07726
Manasquan
Manasquan Police Dept.
201 Eat Main St.
Manasquan 07736
Marlboro Township
Marlboro Township Police Dept.*
1979 Township Drive
Marlboro 07746
Matawan
Matawan Police Dept.
150 Main St.
Matawan 07747
Middletown Township
Middletown Twp. Police Dept.*
1 Kings Hwy
Middletown, New Jersey 07748
Monmouth Beach
Monmouth Beach Police Dept.
14 Willow Ave.
Monmouth Beach 07750
Neptune City
Neptune City Police Dept.
106 West Sylvania Ave.
Neptune City 07753
Neptune Township
Neptune Township Police Dept.
25 Neptune Boulevard
Neptune 07753
Ocean Township
Ocean Township Police Dept.*
399 Monmouth St.
Oakhurst 07755
Oceanport
Oceanport Police Dept.
274 East Main St.
Oceanport 07757
Red Bank
Red Bank Police Dept.
90 Monmouth St.
Red Bank 07701
Rumson
Rumson Police Dept.
80 East River Road
Rumson 07760
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Police Dept.
311 Washington Ave.
Spring Lake 07762
Spring Lake Heights
Spring Lake Heights Police Department
555 Brighton Avenue
Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey 07746
Tinton Falls
Tinton Falls Police Dept.
556 Tinton Ave.
Eatontown 07724
Wall Township
Wall Township Police Dept.*
2700 Allaire Road
Belmar 07719
(732) 449-4500
West Long Branch
West Long Branch Police Dept.
965 Broadway
West Long Branch 07764
Monmouth University Police Dept.
400 Cedar Ave.
West Long Branch 07764
*Permanent Drop-off location
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