NJ’s Project Medicine Drop Expands

Project Medicine Drop, which allows citizens to safely dispose of their unused prescription medications in secure receptacles at law enforcement stations across the state, has expanded to 40 locations statewide.

"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," said Attorney General Jeff Chiesa.

"We also are expanding our fight against prescription drug abuse to include a greater level of outreach and education, along with the traditional components of investigation and enforcement."

The Division of Consumer Affairs this month completed the installation of 13 Project Medicine Drop boxes that have been added across the state since the end of 2012.  The full list of locations can been found at the Division's Project Medicine Drop website.

The 13 newest locations are:

• Bergen County – River Vale Police Department
• Burlington County – Burlington Township Police Department
• Camden County – Haddon Heights Police Department
• Cape May County – Stone Harbor Police Department
• Middlesex County – Perth Amboy Police Department
• Middlesex County – Sayreville Police Department
• Ocean County – Lacey Township Police Department
• Somerset County – Bernards Township Police Department
• Sussex County – Hopatcong Police Department
• Sussex County – Sparta Township Police Department
• Sussex County  – Vernon Township Police Department
• Union County – Elizabeth Police Department
• Warren County – Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Belvidere

"The prescription drug abuse epidemic is fueled by the mistaken belief that it is safe to abuse certain controlled dangerous substances just because they can be prescribed as medicine," said Eric Kanefsky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.  "Nothing could be further from the truth.  Opioid painkillers are chemically similar to heroin and, if taken to get high, can be just as addictive and just as deadly."

The Project Medicine Drop boxes are lockable, metal containers that look like mailboxes.  They can be found at police departments, sheriff's offices and State Police barracks.

Consumers dropped off approximately 1,600 pounds of unused medications at the available Project Medicine Drop boxes during the first quarter of 2013.  Last year, consumers dropped off a total of 6,500 pounds of unused medications at the available locations.