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The program helps keep prescription drugs from falling into the hands of those who might make them available for abuse, and prevents them from being flushed into the water supply or thrown into the trash where they could contaminate the environment, state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said.
Chiesa and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs today announced the expansion of the program to a total of 40 locations statewide, a big boost since the project was launched in all 21 New Jersey counties last fall.
Those include the Paramus and River Vale police departments, where the lockable, metal receptacles — which look like mailboxes — are available for anyone to discretely dispose of meds.
To this point, citizens have dropped off more than 4 tons of unused medications — 8,100 pounds — at the initial Project Medicine Drop locations.
Morristown-based Covanta Energy, a nationwide operator of energy-from-waste and renewable energy facilities, has agreed to destroy the medications at no cost to taxpayers. This saves local police departments thousands of dollars a year.
“Project Medicine Drop is succeeding as part of our effort to help get unused prescription medications away from those who might abuse them – and to encourage families to think differently about the drugs in their medicine cabinets,” Chiesa said.
He said state officials are also a prescription drug abuse education and awareness campaign funded through a recent $650,000 settlement with CVS-Caremark.
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