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Atlantic County groups collected nearly 3,500 pounds of unwanted meds last year

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  • Health

Two local substance misuse prevention coalitions say they collected 3,489 pounds of unwanted unused and/or expired medications last year.

Greater Atlantic Partnership and Join Together Atlantic County say more than 16,800 pounds have been collected since 2016, when the initiative began by placing drop boxes at participating police departments and pharmacies throughout Atlantic County. 

The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. 

The study shows that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home's medicine cabinet. 

The permanent medication drop boxes and the awareness campaigns surrounding them are an important part of reducing the misuse of prescription medication. Cleaning out medicine cabinets and properly disposing of them will reduce the number of prescriptions available which may lead to accidental poisoning, substance misuse and improper disposal harming the environment. 


FIVE STEP AMERICAN MEDICINE CHEST CHALLENGE


• Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine. 

• Secure your medicine chest. 

• Properly dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. 

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• Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed. 

• Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse. 


Each drop box location is monitored by surveillance cameras and has proper documentation from the DEA. 

The purpose of the medication drop box is for residents to have a safe and secure way to dispose of any unwanted, unused or expired medications. Most drop box locations are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however some locations are only available during hours when the location is open.

The initiative would not be possible without the support of local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies. 

The prescription drop boxes were purchased with funds through federal and state grants.  

For more information about GAP and JTAC please visit www.jtacnj.org or call 609-272-0101, ext. 20.



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