Press Release: Cranford Police To Host 'Operation Take Back'

The will be hosting an Operation Take Back local collection site as part of the Operation Take Back medicine disposal day. The event will take place at the , 220 Walnut Ave., between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 29. This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage local community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine.

This statewide effort, with the majority of New Jersey police departments participating, is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s  New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the NY/NJ HIDTA, and the New Jersey National Guard. Cranford residents looking for information on the program and local collection sites should visit http:// www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

“The abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs is too often overlooked as a public safety and community health issue, through our participation in Operation Take Back we are encouraging residents to properly dispose of their unwanted or expired medicines, and we are continuing to bring this important issue to light,” Eric G. Mason, Cranford Police Chief said.

According to recent studies by Monitoring the Future, University of Michigan, between 1997 and 2007, treatment admissions for prescription painkillers increased more than 400 percent. In addition, between 2004 and 2008, the
number of visits to hospital emergency departments involving the non-medical use of narcotic painkillers increased 111 percent. The proper disposal of unwanted medication will help reduce the potential for pharmaceutical diversion.