"Operation Take Back" will be held in New Jersey again this Saturday.

Townsquare Media Staff Photo
Townsquare Media Staff Photo
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The program is designed to get unwanted and dangerous prescription drugs out of your medicine cabinet and off the streets.

NJ's Drug Enforcement Administration Head Carl Kotowski says 175 police departments statewide will take part in this weekend's collection effort from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

He says this event is important, explaining that non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as a drug of abuse.

"What we have been seeing over the years is that people are abusing these drugs, these unused , expired drugs," Kotowski said. "And they start with taking the drugs. In some cases that could be fatal, if they combine it with alcohol. But also, it is a substitute for other addictions, such as heroin."

This will be the 7th "Operation Take Back" held in New Jersey. Kotowski says the last one showed just how much unwanted medicine is out there.

"We collected approximately nine tons of unused, expired prescription drugs," he said.

For information about your nearest drop off site, visit this website.

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