MARLBORO – On Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Marlboro police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give members of the public an opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Residents are asked to bring any unwanted pills for disposal to the Marlboro Police Department in the municipal complex at 1979 Township Drive.
Upon request, police will arrange to pick up medications for disposal from residents who are physically unable to bring medications to the drop-off site, according to a press release. To arrange a pickup, call Detective Sgt. Jay Fox at 732-536-0100, ext. 1640.
In 2012, Mayor Jonathan Hornik, in association with the police, the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and the state Division of Consumer Affairs, announced the inauguration of a permanently installed box as part of Project Medicine Drop.
At any time, residents may drop off their unwanted, unused or expired medications in a locked box in the lobby of the police department. The box resembles a mailbox and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To preserve privacy, residents are asked to remove personal information from prescription bottles. Liquids, needles and sharps are not permitted to be dropped in the box. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
“Removing unwanted drugs from a home is a public safety issue,” Police Chief Bruce Hall said. “Many of our seniors are unable to get to a drop box location. Additionally, more than 11 percent of teens have admitted to abusing prescription drugs and government agencies estimate that 70 percent get their pills from relatives or friends.
“Because of conditions associated with aging, grandparents frequently have a supply of drugs. For that reason, we are asking residents who are physically unable to drop off their pills to call us and we will come get them,” Hall said.
According to the press release, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family members and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — pose potential safety and health hazards.
