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Union County to Participate in the 2015 American Medicine Chest Challenge

project medicine drop boxThe Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to participate in the nation-wide American Medicine Chest Challenge on November 14, 2015.

For safe prescription disposal, Union County residents can take the five-step American Medicine Chest Challenge:

  • Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
  • Secure your medicine chest.
  • Dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine in your home or at an American Medicine Chest Challenge Disposal site.
  • Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed.
  • Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

“To help combat the growing drug abuse threat to our nation’s children and families, Union County is proud to support and host this important initiative,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh. “I encourage residents to bring their unused, unwanted, and expired medicine to any of eight year-round collection sites in Union County.”

24/7 access is available to medicine drop boxes located at the Union County Division of Police at the Froehlich Building at 300 North Ave. East in Westfield, and at seven police stations in Union County including Clark, Elizabeth, Rahway, Roselle Park, Springfield, Summit and Westfield. Medicine drop boxes have been installed at these locations as part of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs’ Project Medicine Drop program.

Residents can get more information about the program and find a local collection site on ucnj.org/prosecutor/outreach/project-medicine-drop-locations/ or www.americanmedicinechest.com or dispose of their medicine at home by following the guidelines on the AMCC website.

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows prescription medicines to be the most abused drugs by Americans, other than marijuana and found that 70% of people who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives. A recent study on drug use by of teens by the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA) found that one in 9 children are abusing prescription pain relievers to get high.

“This Challenge will raise awareness about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and reduce the availability of potent drugs that lead kids down a path to addiction,” explained American Medicine Chest Challenge Chief Executive Officer Angelo M. Valente.

“With the American Medicine Chest Challenge we are calling on residents to 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,” explained Valente.

The American Medicine Chest Challenge has gained the national support of PhRMA, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and Covanta.