Turn in Old, Unwanted Prescription Drugs Saturday

Residents are encouraged to dispose unused, unwanted and expired medicine at this Sat., April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of the statewide effort "Operation Take Back New Jersey."

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is working with Bloomfield police and thousands of other agencies across the United States to collect unwanted prescription drugs. Drugs left in medicine cabinets are “highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” the DEA stated. Expired medications can be a health hazard and rates of prescription drug abuse are now higher than for heroin, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, according to a 2009 survey.

To find out more about the program, visit dea.gov. For more information about the local collection, call Det. Andy Zachares of the Bloomfield Police Department at 973-680-4084.