Sheriff’s Office Joins “Project Medicine Drop” To Help Combat Drug Abuse
Monmouth County: Sheriff Shaun Golden continues to lead the way in the ongoing fight against heroin and opiate abuse and is pleased to be joining the New Jersey Attorney General’s “Project Medicine Drop”. This initiative includes the installation of a new medicine drop box located at the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office in Freehold along with two mobile drop boxes which will be transported to senior centers, in an effort to provide even greater community outreach to residents.
“The mobile component to “Project Medicine Drop” is another important step in the fight against this epidemic, since opiate and heroin abuse are often fueled by prescription drug abuse,” said Sheriff Shaun Golden. “Residents, particularly seniors, may find it inconvenient to travel to the sheriff’s office and dispose of their medications. The mobile “Project Medicine Drop” provides much needed accessibility.”
The mobile “Project Medicine Drop” will be integrated with the Mobile County Connection, which offers government services on wheels as it visits communities throughout Monmouth County.
Residents may continue to drop off their unused, expired and unwanted medications at the permanent site as well, located at 2500 Kozloski Rd., Freehold, at any time.
“Project Medicine Drop” is an important component of the New Jersey Attorney General’s effort to stop the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs including highly addictive opiate painkillers.
Through this initiative, the State Division of Consumer Affairs installs secure prescription drug boxes at police departments, sheriff’s offices and State Police barracks across New Jersey, allowing citizens to safely dispose of their unused, excess or expired prescription medications.
According to the latest statistics there were 165 drug overdoses in Monmouth County in 2016, of them 150 directly resulted from heroin/opiate abuse.
“I can’t think of a more beneficial program where the community and law enforcement work together in the fight against drugs. This effort encourages residents to be fully aware of the potential for abuse presented by otherwise beneficial medications. I commend the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office for their commitment to help improve the public safety and quality of life in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey,” said Sheriff Golden.
Members of the public are invited to visit the “Project Medicine Drop” sites and drop off any unused prescription medications anonymously and with no questions asked. Most “Project Medicine Drop” sites make this service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
By giving New Jerseyans a safe and secure method to dispose of unneeded medications, “Project Medicine Drop” helps prevent the abuse of these drugs. This initiative also protects New Jersey’s environment by keeping these drugs out of landfills and out of the water supply. More information about “Project Medicine Drop” locations can be found at www.NJConsumerAffairs.gov/meddrop.
For a downloadable version of this press release, click here: News-Release-Project-Medicine-Drop
