For Immediate Release:         

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

Residents Across NJ Turn-Out to Dispose of their Unused, Unwanted, Expired Medicine

NEW JERSEY --- The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey (SANJ) held the third annual The American Medicine Chest Challenge–New Jersey  (AMCC) --- a public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, throughout New Jersey, on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

Over a ton of medicine was collected throughout New Jersey during the event which was designed to bring to light the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the easy accessibility within the home by generating unprecedented media attention on the issue of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse and creating a way for adults to anonymously, legally, and safely dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

The initiative encourages families to take the five-step American Medicine Chest Challenge which includes taking inventory of medicine in the home, securing the medicine chest, disposing of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine, taking medicine exactly as prescribed, and talking to children about the dangers of prescription drug-abuse.

AMCC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the PDFNJ, Angelo M. Valente, explained, “AMCC was created to help families see their medicine cabinets through new eyes -- as an access point for potential misuse and abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicine by young people and to provide an opportunity to properly dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines.”

“The goal of this community based public health initiative was to inform New Jersey families of the need to dispose of their unused, unwanted, and expired medicine, and with over a ton of medicine collected throughout the state, clearly New Jersey residents got the message that excess medicine can be a danger lurking in the family home.” Valente noted.

Sheriff Frank X. Balles, president of SANJ, explained, “The Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey is proud to have taken a leadership role is this important lifesaving initiative for New Jersey residents.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled prescription drug abuse an epidemic, reporting that the death toll from overdoses of prescription painkillers has more than tripled in the past decade and more than 40 people die every day from overdoses involving narcotic pain relievers. According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends or relatives, and, there has been a 400% increase in substance abuse treatment admissions for people abusing prescription drugs.

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.

The statewide event was coordinated by PDFNJ, SANJ, the New Jersey National Guard, and Drug Enforcement Administration – New Jersey, with the support of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA), New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), The New Jersey Broadcasters Association, and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.  AMCC is sponsored by PhRMA, Generic Pharmaceutical Associationand is supported by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, American College of Emergency Physicians, Covanta Energy, and Healthcare Distribution Management Association.

The AMCC website www.americanmedicinechest.com is a comprehensive repository of information on the November 10, 2012 event as well as prescription drug abuse prevention.

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