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Three local police departments will host collection sites for citizens to drop off unused, unwanted and expired prescription medication as part of the “National Take–Back Initiative” medicine disposal day.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, the Asbury Park Police Department, Allenhurst Police Department and Ocean Township Police Department will accept unused or expired prescription or over the counter medication anonymously.

Police ask only that any labels or personal information on medications be removed prior to assure anonymity. Collection sites will not accept syringes or other sharp instruments.

Asbury Park’s collection site will be located in the municipal lobby outside of police headquarters at One Municipal Plaza. For more information, call the community relations department at 732-775-6124 or 732-272-5655.

Ocean Township’s collection site will be located at police headquarters at 399 Monmouth Road in the Oakhurst section of the township.

Allenhurst’s collection site will be located at police headquarters at 125 Corlies Ave.

“I urge everyone to take advantage of this initiative so that the unused or unwanted medication is disposed of properly and does not find its way into the wrong hands,” said Asbury Park police Deputy Chief Anthony Salerno.

“The Allenhurst police department strongly believes in this program, because it reduces the chance that these medications can be misused by those they weren’t prescribed to or, even worse, by a child,” said Capt. Michael Schneider.”With the growing problem of heroin use these days, which started in many cases by prescription drug abuse, any unused and unwanted [medication] taken back in a responsible manner is a step in the right direction.”

This national and statewide effort, with the majority of New Jersey police departments participating, is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA).

For more information on the national program, visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration website.

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