New Brunswick Police Accepting Unwanted Prescription Drugs

New Brunswick police will participate in the annual National Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, according to the DEA’s website.

Local police will team up with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and “give the public its tenth opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs,” a news release about the event said.

The event will run form 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at police headquarters.

Residents can bring pills or patches in for disposal. Liquids, needles or other sharps are not accepted.

“The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked,” the news release said.

Last year, residents disposed of 309 tons - more than 617,000 pounds - of prescription drugs at Take Back sites across the country.

Since the program began, federal, state and local law enforcement has collected more than 4.8 million pounds—more than 2,400 tons—of pills.

The program is set up to prevent unused medication from being diverted, misused and abused.

“Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet,” the news release said. “In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.”