NJ Sheriffs to Lead National Event Raising Awareness of Prescription Drug Abuse

Contact: Angelo M. Valente, CEO
201-919-1136 (c)
973-467-2138 (office)
angelo@americanmedicinechest.com

Angela Conover, Media Relations
201-916-1030 (c ) 973-467-2138 (office)
conover@americanmedicinechest.com

New Jersey’s 21 Sheriffs to Lead National Event to Raise Awareness of Prescription Drug Abuse in New Jersey

Unused, Unwanted, and Expired Medicine Disposal locations to be held in all 21 Counties

Millburn, NJ --- On November 13, 2010, a historic and lifesaving event --- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) --- a public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse will be held in communities throughout New Jersey.

The New Jersey event is being coordinated by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey (SANJ), Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey, and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

AMCC is based on the success of the nationally recognized Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey (OMC-NJ). OMC-NJ was the first in the nation statewide day of disposal, held in November 2009 with a one day, four-hour, state-wide event that netted over 9,000 lbs. of medicine, with a street value of over $35 million, while simultaneously garnering over a million dollars in in-kind media attention on the issue of prescription and over the counter drug abuse. The program was recognized in the 2010 Drug Strategy of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy , the New Jersey Ad Club, Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association, the Public Relations Society of New Jersey, and the National Association of Government Communicators.

According to AMCC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the PDFNJ, Angelo M. Valente, “the goal of this community based public health initiative is to inform New Jersey families of the need to dispose of their unused, unwanted, and expired medicine because these excess medicines can be a danger lurking in the family home.

“The American Medicine Chest 5-step challenge will help save the lives of your children. The steps include -- taking inventory of your medicine, securing your medicine chest, take medicine only as prescribed by your doctor, dispose on unused, unwanted, and expired medicine, and most importantly, talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drugs,” Valente explained.

Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano, president of SANJ, explained, “The Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey is proud to be taking a leadership role is the important lifesaving initiative for New Jersey residents. The SANJ will coordinate local collection sites in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties on November 13, 2010. Residents in any county of New Jersey who want to dispose of their unused, unwanted, and expired medicine on November 13^th, should visit www.americanmedicinechest.com to find out where in their community a collection site will be held.”

According to SAMHSA’s 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends or relatives, the same survey showed that the scale of the problem is vast: more than 6 million Americans used a prescription medication for nonmedical purposes in the past 30 days. As alarming, is the fact that, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy there has been a 400% increase in substance abuse treatment admissions for people abusing prescription drugs.

The AMCC is designed to bring to light the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the easy accessibility within the home by generating unprecedented media attention to the issue of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse, to create a way for adults to anonymously, legally, and safely dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine, and to encourage families to take the five step American Medicine Chest Challenge.

The AMCC website www.americanmedicinechest.com is a comprehensive repository of information on the November 13, 2010 event as well as prescription drug abuse.

AMCC is being supported by numerous organizations in New Jersey including the Health Care Institute of New Jersey, the New Jersey Prevention Network, the Poison Control Center of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Human Services, and the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.  National sponsors include PhRMA, The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the American College of Emergency Room Physicians, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. The parent organization of AMCC is the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

The national event comes on the heels of President Obama’s signing of Senate Bill S3397, a law that will allow for prescription drug collection and disposal programs to be conducted with greater ease.

“With over 500 community, government, and local law enforcement partners in 33 states, plus the District of Columbia, we are on our way to a truly historical nationwide awakening to the dangers of prescription drug abuse,” explained Valente.

Interview opportunities are available upon request

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