Somerset County Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano announces an opportunity for county residents to dispose of unwanted or outdated prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. The special collection will be held on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority, located at 70 Commerce Drive, Somerset. The Rx drop-off is being held in conjunction with a scheduled Somerset County Household Hazardous Waste drop-off event.
Medications should be dropped off in their original packages or bottles. Cross off your name and address on the label but do not cover or remove the name of the medication. Do not bring illegal drugs, needles or sharps to the drop-off.
“Leftover medicines pose serious safety and health threats and also raise environmental concerns. Prescription-drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. Among youth, seven of the top 10 abused substances are pharmaceuticals. Additionally, medicines flushed down the drain or toilet can contaminate bodies of water, harm wildlife and end up in drinking-water supplies,” said Sheriff Provenzano.
Additional information on how to dispose of unused medicines is available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm107163.pdf
For more information regarding prescription medicine collection, contact Lieutenant Steve SanAntonio at 908-231-7168.