New Jersey Families Challenged to Tackle Prescription Drug Misuse

10/25/2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Contact: Matt Birchenough, 201-916-1032, media@drugfreenj.org

New Jersey Families Challenged to Tackle Prescription Drug Misuse

Free, Safe Medicine Disposal Locations Available Throughout the State

MILLBURN — On November 11, communities across the state will participate in the 9th Annual American Medicine Chest Challenge – New Jersey (AMCC-NJ) Day of Awareness of Prescription Drug Abuse and Safe Disposal, a public health initiative supported by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and encourage safe disposal of prescription drugs.

The American Medicine Chest Challenge is the home of the national registry of permanent collection sites where people can safely dispose of their unwanted, expired and unused medicine. There currently are nearly 2,000 permanent disposal sites in 46 states. To find a site near you, visit AmericanMedicineChest.com.

“The American Medicine Chest Challenge can help save the lives of our children,” said Angelo M. Valente, CEO of AMCC. “By participating in AMCC’s ‘5 Step Challenge,’ families throughout the country are safeguarding their home from the potential misuse of medicine. The five steps include taking inventory of your medicine; securing your medicine chest; taking medicine only as prescribed; safely disposing of unused, unwanted and expired medicine; and, most importantly, talking to your children about the dangers of prescription drugs.”

According to recent studies, approximately 80 percent of heroin users had previously misused prescription opioids before using heroin. In 2015, 33,091 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose.

AMCC is supported by The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the American College of Emergency Room Physicians and Covanta Energy and is a subsidiary of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

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Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication.  To date, more than $70 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 166 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.