National Drug Take-Back Day Is Saturday

The Drug Enforcement Administration is gearing up for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. The event is to take place Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at a number of sites throughout New Jersey and the nation.

The special day is designed to give people an opportunity to get rid of their unwanted, unused prescription drugs in a safe manner.

The nearest drop-off site (so far) is the East Hanover Police Department at 2 DeForest Ave. in East Hanover. Other locations are available as well. For more info, call 800-882-9539.

The Parsippany Municipal Alliance Committee has come out in support of the effort.

"One of the most common places where people who abuse prescription drugs find these substances in the medicine cabinet of friends and family," said committee chair Annelise Catanzaro. "We ask every family in Parsippany to take advantage of this program and dispose safely of their unused medications.  This simple act can reduce the likelihood of drugs finding their way to the hands of those struggling with addiction.  

"Small steps like this can help make a big impact on keeping Parsippany safe."

The DEA said citizens responded overwhelmingly to their previous Take-Back Days: After the last one, held April 28, the agency reported citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds or 276 tons of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at 5,659 take-back sites available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the four Take-Back Days held so far are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners will have removed more than 1.5 million pounds—774 tons—of drugs from circulation, according to the agency.

"We are pleased at the response of the American people once again, and we thank them for participating and contributing to the battle against prescription drug abuse," said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "Our take-back events highlight the problems related to prescription drug abuse and give our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution."

In Parsippany, Hiawatha Pharmacy, inside the Super Foodtown on North Beverwyck Road, accepts expired medication drop-offs during its regular opening hours regularly, Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, check out the pharmacy's Facebook page or call pharmacist Atta Rehman at 973-794-4909.