Nutley Police Department has installed a Medicine Drop Box to offer residents a safe way to dispose of unused or expired medications

The Nutley Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Commissioner Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo, is pleased to announce that a permanent Medicine Drop box has been installed on the 2nd floor of police headquarters located at 228 Chestnut Street in Nutley. The installation coincided with the nationwide Prescription Drug Take‐Back Day that was being held throughout the country in April 2017.

“This is an important part of our Department’s Drug Abuse education program and is intended to help residents dispose of unwanted medicines and pharmaceuticals in a safe and secure way. If we can provide any deterrent to drugs being available to people at risk then we are doing our job” said Commissioner Petracco. Chief Strumolo added “We've seen countless stories in recent years about the alarming rise in prescription drug abuse, which is now serving as a gateway to heroin abuse because it produces a similar, but cheaper, high. Many times an innocent bottle of painkillers prescribed legally to an adult goes largely unused and remains in a medicine cabinet where teens can get their hands on them."

Residents may visit the Nutley Police Department at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to anonymously dispose of their unused or excess medications with no questions asked. Solid pharmaceuticals such as pills, capsules, patches, inhalers and pet medications can be disposed of in the drop box. It cannot accept syringes or liquids. “The medicine does not need to be in a plastic bag and residents can just drop it in the box”, Chief Strumolo said.

For more information about the drop box located at the Nutley Police Department please contact 973‐284‐4940.

Related Information:

• National Prescription Drug Take Back Day - https://takebackday.dea.gov/
• Prescription Medication Disposal Guide - https://www.pharmaquotes.com/prescription-medication-disposal