Message from the Middlesex County Office of Human Services   At this time our nation is experiencing an unprecedented public health crisis due to the COVID-19 virus. The situation worldwide has required a rigorous response to slow down the spread of disease.   It is important to remember that even in these times, you are not alone. Support continues to be available even when it is not face-to-face. There is an entire community of call centers, text support and online support groups ready to help you or your loved ones whenever you need it. For residents who are having difficulty coping with the COVID19 crisis, please call New Jersey Mental Health Cares, Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Inc. at (877) 294-HELP (4357) between the hours of 8AM to 8PM for emotional support, guidance and mental health referrals as needed. Additional resources for mental health, addiction recovery, peer support and general information about COVID-19 may be found below. Behavioral Health Phone Numbers   Leading the Way for Healthy and SAFE Communities For more information go to: http://gcada.nj.gov/   Alcohol Resources Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration CDC Underage Drinking Fact Sheet National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism The Borough of Sayreville is pleased to announce our participation in Project Medicine Drop. This initiative of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in conjunction with Sayreville Police Department will provide residents with a secure, environmentally sound manner of disposing of unused and expired medications 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Members of the public can anonymously drop off medications in the Project Medicine Drop Box located in the Sayreville Police Department, 1000 Main St., Sayreville, NJ 08872. Taking advantage of this program can help prevent unused medication from falling into the hands of those who might abuse them and it keeps them from being flushed into our water supply.  Importance of Safe Disposal of Medication It is imperative that everyone take responsibility to ensure that unused and expired medications are disposed of properly. Improper storage and disposal can lead to accidental overdose or abuse. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that prescription painkiller overdose now kills more people in the United States than heroin and cocaine COMBINED. Abuse is also a growing trend among teens who mistakenly believe prescription drugs are “safer” than illegal drugs. Many of these teens go on to become addicted and some even turn to heroin use. For more information and tips on how to keep your loved ones safe, please see our brochure. Environmental Risks of Improper Disposal of Medication When medications are thrown into the garbage or flushed down the sink or toilet, they may break down or dissolve into the soil or water supply. Although the concentration levels of these products may be very low, it could potentially be enough to harm the environment and possibly effect human health, particularly vulnerable populations like infants, pregnant women, the elderly and children. There are also concerns that antibiotics in the environment could contribute to antibiotic resistance, making it more difficult to treat infections.   Alcohol Resources Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration CDC Underage Drinking Fact Sheet Sayreville's Alliance For Family Education (S.A.F.E.)      The mission of the Sayreville Alliance for Family Education - S.A.F.E. - is to address alcoholism and drug abuse and their related problems through prevention, education, and collaboration. We increase awareness and educate our community through Alliance sponsored activities. We want to provide a safe and healthy community for our children. We want our parents to recognize early symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse. We want our community to know the effects of alcohol and drug abuse. We want our children to understand its okay to say no, and we want to offer our children healthy alternatives. To achieve these goals we have established a network of private citizens, community leaders, and various human service agencies that are dedicated to a comprehensive and coordinated effort in which the promotion and support of drug and alcohol prevention education programs and related activities are enforced.                         Back to Boards Page