Project Medicine Drop

The Seaside Heights Police Department has partnered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs for the implementation of Project Medicine Drop.

Project Medicine Drop allows residents to safely dispose of unused, unwanted or expired medications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The boxes can only accept pills, capsules, patches, inhalers and pet medications.

The boxes cannot accept liquids, medical waste, or syringes. Consumers wishing to dispose of these objects should speak with their doctors or pharmacists to find the safest and best ways to dispose of them.

It should also be noted that consumers may only dispose of legal prescription or over-the-counter medications. Anyone wishing to dispose of any illicit drug, should follow the normal procedure of reporting it to the police.

The Drop Box is located in the lobby of the Seaside Heights Police Department.

Contact Property and Evidence Custodian Detective Michael McCurdy @ 732-793-1800 if you have any questions.

How Serious is the Problem of Prescription Drug Abuse?

The facts and statistics about prescription drug abuse are staggering.

Every day, 40 Americans die from an overdose caused by prescription painkiller abuse, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control. Overdoses of opioid prescription drugs now kill more people in the U.S. than heroin and cocaine combined.
Two in five teenagers mistakenly believe prescription drugs are “much safer” than illegal drugs, according to the DEA, and three in 10 teens mistakenly believe prescription painkillers are not addictive.
In the United States, every day 2,500 youths take a prescription pain reliever for the purpose of getting high for the very first time, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration reports that prescription drugs, including opioids and antidepressants, are responsible for more overdose deaths than “street drugs” such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines.
The number of American teenagers and adults who abuse prescription drugs is greater than those who use cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, compiled by the US Department of Health and Senior Services.
In June 2011, the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation reported that a growing number of young people are abusing prescription drugs, and noted a significant trend in which the practice has led to increases, not only in the number of young people addicted to painkillers, but to the number of young people using heroin as well.