Hunterdon County collects 160 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs during National Take Back Day on Oct. 26
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson and Sheriff Frederick W. Brown proudly announced the success of National Take Back Day, a collaborative initiative aimed at combating prescription drug abuse.
Sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Take Back Day provides a safe and responsible way to dispose of unused medications while raising awareness about their potential for abuse.
On Oct. 26, Hunterdon County’s Take Back Day yielded impressive results, with 160 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs collected from various locations throughout the county. Citizens were encouraged to visit designated collection sites at local police departments and public buildings to safely discard expired medications.
Since April 2024, a total of 942 pounds of prescription drugs have been removed from circulation, highlighting the community’s commitment to promoting public safety. The initiative underscores a crucial message: most abused prescription drugs are often obtained from family and friends, particularly from home medicine cabinets.
Prosecutor Robeson and Sheriff Brown emphasized the importance of proper medication disposal, noting that traditional methods like flushing drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can pose significant safety and health risks.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans need to know that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.
