PDFNJ, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, along with Actavis, unveil an AMCC Rx Drop Box in Secaucus

4/7/2014

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, in conjunction with Actavis, unveiled a Americvan Medicine Chest Rx Drop Box in Secaucus. The box is located in the lobby of the Secaucus Police Department at 1203 Patterson Plank Road. (l-r) Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, Chief Dennis Corcoran, Deputy Chief John Cerny, Mayor Michael Gonnelli, Mayor of Secaucus, Freeholder Albert Cifelli, Assemblyman Vincent Prieto, Doug Bratton, Executive Director, Partners in Prevention, and Tom Allen, Executive Director, Summit Behavioral Health 

For Immediate Release:

April 7, 2014

Matt Scuteri, Media Relations 201-916-1032 (c ) 973-467-2138 (office)   matt@drugfreenj.org

 

American Medicine Chest Challenge Provides Hudson County Residents an Opportunity to Safely Dispose of their Rx Medicines

SECAUCUS – Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto joined Secaucus officials, today, to unveil an American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) prescription drug disposal box for local residents to safely dispose of their unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

“With prescription drug abuse on the rise in New Jersey, it is important for families to understand the importance of disposing excess medicines that can be a danger lurking in the family home. Hudson County residents will now have more opportunities to safeguard their homes from prescription drug abuse with a safe, convenient, and legal option for their disposal,” Angelo M. Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s American Medicine Chest Challenge, explained.

Valente said that with the support and collaboration of Actavis and the Hudson County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community, PDFNJ, was able to provide the Secaucus Police Department with a permanent collection box for the disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

The Secaucus box will be located at the Secaucus Police Department at 1203 Patterson Plank Road, Secaucus, NJ and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I think this is a great thing to do,” said Assemblyman Vincent Prieto. “You need to be cognizant of what you have [in the medicine cabinet] and who is getting ahold of them if you have children or other people in your home. You need to make sure they are in a safe and secure environment. I commend [PDFNJ] for taking this step and the leadership of the county, the mayor and the police for partnering together to combat this. At the end of the day, it’s to make a safe environment for everyone.”

“Having this drop box for old Rx medicines offers our residents a safe way to dispose of old prescription medication,” said Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli.

“The Hudson County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community is proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and Secaucus Police Department to provide a safe way for unused prescription medicines to be disposed of,” said Karena Malko, Coalition Coordinator, Hudson County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community. “With the combined help of these community partners and this drop box, we will deter the likelihood of prescription drug abuse,” Malko added.

Tom Allen, executive director of Summit Behavioral Health in Mercer County said of the epidemic, “I keep hearing time and time again from my clients that they’re being exposed to prescription drugs not from a pusher on the street or in the school, but from their mom and dad’s medicine cabinet.”

“The opioid catastrophe in this country is an epidemic,” said Hudson County Freeholder Albert Cifelli. “I’m just thankful that Mayor Gonnelli and the people in this community have taken up this step today.”

“Actavis is proud to partner with the American Medicine Chest Challenge to raise awareness and educate consumers about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and to underscore the importance of properly disposing of unused medications,” said Paul Bisaro, Chairman and CEO of Actavis.  Bisaro added, “By providing a safe, secure location for the proper disposal of unused, expired or unneeded medications, disposal boxes such as these highlight our commitment to being a national leader in the fight against prescription drug abuse, and to serving as responsible corporate citizens in the communities in which we live and work.”

Jill Preis, Substance Awareness Coordinator for Secaucus Schools, said, "A drop box in Secaucus is a wonderful convenience for both community members and people who work in the district. Getting unused medications out of harms’ way is a wonderful benefit to the Secaucus community.”

Valente noted that additional permanent disposal locations can be found on AmericanMedicineChest.Com or through the “AMCC Rx Drop” Mobile App.

The AMCC challenges families to 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.

AMCC is sponsored by PhRMA, Actavis, The Partnership at Drugfree.org, the American College of Emergency Room Physicians, and Covanta Energy.

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.

 

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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 120 Advertising and Public Relations Awards from National, Regional & Statewide Media Organizations.

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