The Eatontown Police Department will accept unwanted prescription drugs from residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 as the department participates in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The police department’s headquarters is located at 47 Broad St.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be the 15th opportunity for members of the public to dispose of any unused, expired or extra medications, according to the borough.
The initiative provides an opportunity for members of the public to prevent addiction and overdose-related deaths and is a response to the state’s ongoing opioid crisis, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
In partnership with the DEA, Eatontown will endorse the nationwide initiative that “prevents pill abuse and theft” by removing potentially dangerous drugs from homes, according to a press release from the borough.
According to the press release, the same initiative in October was an “enormous success” as 14,527 pounds of unwanted medication were collected at 177 participating state and local police departments.
Eatontown has no plans to implement a Project Medicine Drop Box as a permanent fixture at the police department at this time, police Lt. Tony Guido said.
Project Medicine Drop Box consists of the installation of a secure medicine disposal site, generally in a municipal building or police headquarters, which allows members of the public to dispose of unused, unwanted and/or expired prescription drugs in a safe manner, according to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
