DEA announces drug takeback day

NEWTON — DEA Acting Administrator, Chuck Rosenberg, announced that the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. local time in every state but Pennsylvania and Delaware.

As with the previous nine Take-Back events, sites will be set up throughout communities nationwide so local residents can return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.

Becky Carlson, Executive Director of The Center for Prevention and Counseling in Newton said that,

“We are fortunate and appreciative to have the DEA, The Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office as well as state and local police departments and municipalities cooperating in this effort to reduce prescription drug abuse," said Becky Carlson, executive director of the Center for Prevention and Counseling in Newton. "When community members do their part in keeping unwanted drugs out of their homes, placing them in safe disposal site receptacles, we reduce the chance of people using these substances illegally. We hope the word is getting out there that this is the smartest and safest way to help keep our communities safe.”

Permanent collection sites in Sussex County are located in Andover, Augusta, Hardyston, Hopatcong, Newton, Sparta and Vernon where these police departments have receptacles for dropping off unwanted drugs, 24/7 in their lobby. In addition to these permanent sites, on Saturday, Sept. 26, there will also be Rx drop offs set up in Byram at Waterloo Village with the cooperation of the Byram Police Dept., as well as in Hamburg with the Hamburg Police Dept.

More information on this initiative can be found at www.centerforprevention.org.