Berkeley Police Schedule Prescription Drug Drop-Off Day

Residents who want to safely disposed of unneeded prescription drugs can drop them off at two locations in the township on Sept. 29.

The Berkeley Township police department is again participating in Operation Take Back New Jersey, a statewide initiative, Detective Sgt. James J. Smith said.

Residents can dispose of their medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Township Recreation Center at 630 Route 9 South in Bayville and the Holiday City Clubhouse on Jamaica Boulevard, Smith said.

"Both will be manned by police officers," he said. "The mayor, the Township Council as well as the police chief are encouraging residents that have any unwanted, unused, or no longer needed prescription drugs,"

The police department has participated in the program in the past, Smith said.

"We've always had a great turnout," he said. "We hope to get the same cooperation this time."

The collected drugs are turned over to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, which in turn sends them to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

The goal of the program is to allow the citizens of New Jersey to deliver all of their unused, unwanted, or expired medications to law enforcement officials who can in turn dispose of these controlled substances in a safe and non-hazardous manner, preventing these pills from falling into the hands of juveniles or into the illicit market in our communities, according to Operation Take Back New Jersey's website at www.operationtakebacknj.com

"It (prescription drugs) sometimes fall into the wrong hands," Smith said. "The whole operation is just adding another layer of protection."