The Lakewood Police Department will once again join the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications.

It is an opportunity to dispose of tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription medications. Vaping devices will be accepted provided that the lithium batteries have been removed. Liquids, syringes and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 22. The items can be dropped off at the lobby of Lakewood Police Headquarters, 231 3rd Street, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The Villages in Lakewood will also have drop-off boxes.

Additionally, on Sunday, April 23, residents who are unable to drop off on Saturday will be able to drop off their items at CHEMED, 1771 Madison Avenue, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Police Chief Greg Meyer said.

There will be also be a drop off site located in front of the Ocean County Justice Complex, located at 120 Hooper Ave., in Toms River, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 22.

A drop-off box is always available at the Lakewood Police Department lobby.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been held bi-annually since 2010. Since its inception, the Drug Enforcement Administration and its law enforcement partners have collected 15.2 million pounds of medication. On October 9, 2022, the public turned in 647,163 pounds of medication to the Drug Enforcement Administration and its 4,340 community partners, at 4,902 collection sites nationwide.

“Take Back Day is an important and effective tool in reducing the availability of unused medication and prescription drugs. I encourage all of our residents to take advantage of these opportunities to turn these items over to law enforcement,” Police Chief Greg Meyer stated.