Summit residents can drop off unused or expired prescription medications at City Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24, for safe disposal.
The Summit Police Department is hosting a collection site in the City Hall lobby at 512 Springfield Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the city's event calendar. The event is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The DEA is coordinating more than 4,400 collection sites across the country, working with over 4,300 law enforcement partners, according to a DEA press release. The program has removed more than 20 million pounds of unneeded medications from American homes since 2010, DEA Administrator Terry Cole said.
"By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands …" Cole said in the release.
What's accepted: tablets, capsules, patches and other prescription medications. Liquid medications must be in their original, sealed containers.
What's not accepted: syringes, sharps and illicit drugs.
Prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Removing unused medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion, the DEA said.
Residents who cannot make the Oct. 24 event can find year-round disposal options at more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals and businesses nationwide, the DEA said. Many police departments also maintain permanent drop boxes. Additional collection sites for Saturday's event are listed at DEATakeBack.com.
