Prescription Drug Drop Off Events Yield 171 Pounds
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato today announced that the August 14th and 26th Prescription Drug Drop Off Programs sponsored by DART, the Ocean County Health Department, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office were again a tremendous success. Thanks to the Lakewood Blue Claws welcoming this important initiative at their venue, the program partners were able to collect and destroy 171lbs overall.
Game attendees took the opportunity to enjoy America’s favorite pastime, while cleaning out their medicine cabinets of potentially dangerous prescription drugs. Event volunteers accepted unwanted prescriptions before the start of the games at 6pm, and closed out the collection just prior to 7:30pm.
The drop off program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
The 171lbs of collected drugs were secured by members of the Ocean County Prosecutors Office and turned over to the Lakewood Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to be safely destroyed.
Safeguarding and disposal of prescription drugs is everyone’s responsibility. Those unable to take advantage of the drop off events at Blue Claw’s Stadium can still safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs at any of Ocean County’s established permanent drop off locations listed below:
➢ Seaside Heights Police Department, 116 Sherman Ave., Seaside Heights, or call (732) 793-1800.
➢ Toms River Police Department, 255 Oak Ave., Toms River, or call (732) 349-0150.
➢ Lacey Township Police Department, 808 West Lacey Road, Forked River, or call (609) 693-6636.
➢ Lakewood Township Police Department, 231 Third St., Lakewood, or call (732) 363-0200.
➢ Manchester Township Police Department, 1 Colonial Drive, Manchester Township, or call (732) 657-2009.
➢ Berkeley Township Police Department, 631 Pinewald Keswick Road, Bayville, or call (732) 341-6600.