Cranford Police to Participate in Prescription Drug Take Back

As part of the 7th annual nationwide prescription drug disposal program, the Cranford Police department will set up a medication collection site at the Cranford Community Center on Oct. 26.

The initiative is a way to have residents dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medicine. Needles, syringes and other sharp tools including Epi-pens will not be accepted.

A majority of New Jersey police departments will be participating in the take back, which is spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

The rate of prescription drug abuse in the United States in alarmingly high, according to the DEA, by hosting this program it diminishes the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs in the community. Both flushing medicine down the toilet and throwing it out pose safety and health hazards.

“The abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs is often overlooked as a public safety issue,” Cranford Police Chief Eric Mason said. “Through our participation in the Take Back Initiative we are encouraging residents to properly dispose of their unwanted or expired medicines, and in doing so we are protecting vulnerable members of our community from the host of issues that accompany the abuse of these medicines.”

Disposal is voluntary and anonymous and no identification is required during drop-off.