Med Drop Drive Thru

The Bernards Township Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Bernards Township Health Department, Bernards Township Police Department and Community in Crisis are holding the a Medication Drop Off Drive Thru in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Agency’s National Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23^rd from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. Residents are invited to drive up to the Police Department front driveway and drop off their unused medications without having to leave their vehicle.

Oftentimes when patients are prescribed medications by their doctors, they pick up the medications, use them until they feel well, and then unused medicine sits in the household for long periods of time. While the medicine sitting locked up isn’t harmful alone, the possibility of what can happen when prescription medication gets into the wrong hands can lead to harmful outcomes. Either someone else finds the medication and uses it in the way it was not intended, or people eventually dispose of the medications improperly. 
            As with previous Drug Take Back events, several sites will be set up throughout communities nationwide so residents can return their unused or expired prescription or over-the counter medication. The National Prescription Drug Take Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue by focusing on removing potentially dangerous drugs from residents’ homes and providing an opportunity for the public to surrender the expired or unused pharmaceuticals and other medications to law enforcement officers for proper disposal.

According to takebackday.dea.gov, “The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that most misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

            Medications can be dropped off in their original containers. Participants can black out or remove labels with names on all prescription packages or bottles. These medications can be unused, expired, over the counter, or prescription. Only solid medications, pills, patches, inhalers, or similar objects can be accepted.  Liquids, medical waste, oxygen tanks, needles, and syringes cannot be accepted. Please do not drop off any unused toiletries or garbage. More information and instructions on how to dispose of liquids and needles can be found at http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/meddrop.

            Signs will be posted at 1 Collyer Lane on the day of the Drive Thru. Participants should follow the signs to the Police Department where volunteers and Bernards Township Police Officers will be standing. Please note that the Drop Off Box that is located at the Bernards Township Police Department is always open for drop off Monday – Friday from 7:00 am until 4:30 pm. To drop off at other times, please call the Bernards Township non-emergency line at (908) 766-1122.

The mission of the Bernards Township Municipal Alliance Against Substance Abuse is to provide consultation, programs, training, and resources to members of the Bernards Township community with the goal of preventing and reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through education, support of events and programs and presence in the community. For more information, visit www.bernardsalliance.org.

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