Atlantic County Drug Collection Box Rakes in 54 Pounds of Pills in One Month

Just one month after the permanent drug collection box was installed in the county courthouse, 54 pounds of pills have been disposed of contributing to a total of 88 pounds of drugs overall, Atlantic County Sheriff Frank X. Balles announced on Tuesday.

"I would have never imagined that kids my age would have such easy access to these prescriptions," local college student Kevin Brady said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. "What a temptation to have just down the hall from your room! You really have to know your friends before you bring them into your home and allow them access to medications that may have been previously prescribed to family members."

With the support and collaboration of Actavis, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) awarded the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office a permanent collection box last month for the disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

The box is located in the vestibule of the Mays Landing Criminal Court Complex, which is open to the public from 7:30am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

“Everyone wants to be a ‘perfect parent.’ Here is an easy and convenient way to protect your family from accidental overdose or teenage temptations," Balles said. "Take the time to safely dispose of unused or expired medication today.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled prescription drug abuse an epidemic, reporting that the death toll from overdoses of prescription painkillers has more than tripled in the past decade and more than 40 people die every day from overdoses involving narcotic pain relievers.

According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends or relatives, and, there has been a 400% increase in substance abuse treatment admissions for people abusing prescription drugs.