County Reminds Grieving Families to Dispose of Medications

Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, in conjunction with local funeral homes and directors, today announced a proactive awareness program aimed at alerting grieving family members and loved ones of the inherent dangers of unused prescription medications.  

Staff from the prosecutor's office are currently distributing warning cards to local funeral homes for distribution by funeral directors during memorial service counseling sessions, according to a prepared statement from the prosecutor's office.

The cards serve to alert grieve stricken individuals of the need to dispose of unused medications that may be left in the home of the deceased person.

"The Funeral Cards gently explain to the families that misuse of prescription drugs has become a major problem in our county due to the ongoing opiate/heroin epidemic," the statement says.  

The cards provide the specific location of the four established prescription drug drop-off boxes that are currently up and running in Ocean County.

"It is our hope that these unused medications will be disposed of at the designated drop-off points so that they do not get into the hands of those who would use or sell them illegally," the statement says.

"Another overlooked fact is the danger of disposing unused prescription medications down the sink or toilet," the statement says. "The presence of hundreds of unregulated pharmaceuticals and other man-made chemicals in the nation’s surface, ground, waste, and drinking water is becoming increasingly well-documented." 

An Associated Press investigation (“AP Probe Finds Drugs in Drinking Water,” March 9, 2008) brought to greater light what the scientific literature has been documenting for a decade, that this practice contaminates ground and drinking water, the statement continues.  

In the study, disposal of unused drugs was cited as one of the many water pollution contributors.

There will be an additional five drop-off locations added within the next few months pending permit application clearances and on-site inspections of those locations by the Attorney General's Office.   

Updated cards will be prepared as the additional facilities are brought online. 

To receive information on the program, call Ocean County Prosecutor Agent Michael Colwell at 732-929-2027 Ext. 4287. See the attached sample card.