FREEHOLD, NJ  – Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, Monmouth County residents have many places where they can dispose of unwanted or expired medicines as part of Operation Medicine Cabinet.  

 

Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, liaison to the county’s Mental Health and Addiction Services division, advises county residents to contact their local police departments or visit www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.com to determine the closest collection site to dispose of their unused, unwanted and/or expired medicine.

 

“This effort will reduce the prescription drugs that are readily available to our children,” Mallet said. “Prescription drugs are considered a gateway drug to other serious and dangerous street drugs. Let’s get our unwanted, unused and expired medicine out of our homes.”

 

The program is anonymous and no questions will be asked of participants. This is the first statewide medicine disposal day in New Jersey.

           

An additional benefit of Operation Medicine Cabinet is that all of the prescription medicines turned in will be disposed of properly.

           

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that most medicines be disposed of in the household trash after mixing them with some unpalatable substance (e.g., coffee grounds) and sealing them in a container. Unused portions of medicines must be disposed of properly to avoid harm. Additional information is available at www.fda.gov.

           

This statewide effort, with more than 400 participating New Jersey police departments, is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. 

           

For more information on the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and local collection information, visit www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.com.  

 

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