Hunterdon County collects 375 pounds of unwanted medications during National Take Back Day
HUNTEDON COUNTY, N.J. — Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson and Sheriff Frederick W. Brown announced the results of the county’s participation in National Take Back Day, a nationwide initiative aimed at safely disposing of unused or expired prescription medications.
Sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way to discard prescription drugs while raising awareness about the dangers of misuse. The event in Hunterdon County was a collaborative effort involving the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office, local police departments, and the Safe Communities Coalition.
The October 25 event resulted in the collection of 375 pounds of unwanted medications from residents across Hunterdon County. Throughout 2025, from April through October, a total of 971 pounds of prescription drugs were collected.
Residents were able to drop off unused and expired medications at designated police departments and public buildings, helping to prevent prescription drug misuse and keep medications out of the wrong hands.
According to the DEA, studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends — often from the home medicine cabinet. The agency also warns that traditional disposal methods, such as flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose environmental and health hazards.
