Day dedicated for safely disposing of old meds
Hardyston Area residents can throw away their unwanted or expired prescription medicine on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Hardyston Township Municipal Building at 149 Wheatsworth Rd. It’s all part of Operation Medicine Cabinet, a statewide initiative. According to the agencies that have put this together, this effort comes at a time when the abuse of prescription drugs and over the counter drugs among teens is at an all-time high. Specifically, authorities say the types of drugs likely to be abused include: those prescribed after surgery; depressants, such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs, and stimulants, such as drugs prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. According to the antidrug.com, every day 2,500 people ages 12 to 17 abuse a pain reliever for the very first time. More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug except marijuana. In 2006, more than 2.1 million teens ages 12 to 17 reported abusing prescription drugs. Among 12- and 13-year-olds, prescription drugs are the drug of choice. This program was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Jersey division, the New Jersey Office of Attorney General and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, For more information on the drop-off call 973-823-7022.
Safe drug disposal tips:
If you can’t get to a hospital or community drug “take back” program, follow these tips for safely disposing of prescription and over-the-counter medications:
Follow disposal directions on the package. Do not flush prescription drugs unless specifically instructed. Do not give unused or outdated prescriptions to family or friends.
If there are no directions, take the drugs out of the original container and mix them with coffee grounds, kitty litter or something else undesirable to make it less likely that anyone would remove them from the trash.
Place the drugs in a sealable bag, can or other container before placing them in a trash bag.
Scratch out all medical and personal information from pill bottles or medication containers before disposal.
If in doubt, contact a pharmacist.
Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration