Media Release
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Chief Mark Ott.
Bridgeton Police Dept.
(856) 451-0033
BRIDGETON POLICE TAKE LEAD IN COLLECTING
UNUSED MEDICATIONS
In what officials
acknowledge could be a danger hiding in plain sight, the issue of disposing of
unused or unwanted prescriptions has been front and center recently; prompting
Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly and Police Chief Mark Ott to set up a way for
residents to dispose of these medications.
“Chief Ott and I have
talked about the dangers of unused medicines in the home getting into the wrong
hands and the potential for misuse or abuse. Whether it’s taking expired
medicine, taking the wrong medicine, or someone stealing narcotic pain medicines;
we need to deal with it” said Kelly.
That need translates into
a program that allows anyone with unused or unwanted prescription medications
to come to the Bridgeton Police Department dispatch window, located at the
Police & Municipal Court Complex at
330 Fayette Street, and tell the desk officer they have unused or unwanted
medications to drop off.
According to Ott, the only
question that will be asked is whether the medication is a liquid or not
because liquid medications cannot be accepted for disposal at the current time.
“The desk officer will
supply you with a sealing plastic envelope in which you drop the medication
(pills, powders, capsules, etc.), minus any container or pill bottles. You will be asked to seal the bag and return
it to the desk officer, that’s all there is to the process” said Ott. “From
there, the medications will be properly disposed of” Ott added.
According to Kelly, the
issue of dealing with narcotic pain medications in particular is critical; “Today,
we have a growing epidemic of abusing narcotic pain medication in this country
and its destroying lives, that’s why providing people with a quick and safe way
to dispose of these medicines is important.” Kelly said
Ott, echoing Kelly added,
“The people of Bridgeton should know that the Bridgeton Police Department is
committed to keeping residents and children safe from the risks presented by
storing unused or unwanted prescription drugs in the home” said Ott.
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To learn
more about the City of Bridgeton please visit www.cityofbridgeton.com