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(Hackensack, NJ) - November 3, 2010 – For area residents who didn't have an opportunity to dispose of their prescription medications during September's Operation Take Back NJ effort, the American Medicine Chest Challenge is occurring on Saturday, November 13, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Collection sites include the center court of Paramus Park Shopping Center, Bergen Community College's Lyndhurst campus and the Konica Spectator Lobby at Ramapo College in Mahwah.
Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem nationwide. The 2007 National Study of Drug Use and Health found that 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers indicated they got them from friends or relatives, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that upward of 9 million people use prescription medication for non-medical uses. Using prescription drugs to get high is growing in popularity among high school students and is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States; with prescription drugs ranking as the second most abused category of drugs behind marijuana. While these medications are safe and effective when taken as directed for legitimate medical purposes, they are just as dangerous and deadly as illicit drugs when taken for non-medical purposes or ingested accidentally. (Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy).
The Center For Alcohol and Drug Resources, a Program of Children's Aid and Family Services; the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office; and the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, are encouraging Bergen County residents to properly dispose of their prescription medications during the American Medicine Chest Challenge. The initiative is open to all Bergen County residents and is free and anonymous. The substances will be disposed of in a safe, non-hazardous manner, preventing them from falling into the hands of teenagers or causing harm to the environment.
Additional collection sites can be found on www.americanmedicinechest.com. For more information, please call The Center at 201.488.8680. If you are unable to participate in the American Medicine Chest Challenge, please visit www.smartxtdisposal.net for tips on how to dispose of your unwanted medications.
The Center will have information available about the abuse of prescription drugs at each of the drop-off sites during the event. The Center is Bergen County's designated resource center for alcohol, tobacco and other drug information. If you have concerns or questions about yourself or a friend or family member, call 201.488.8680 to speak with one of The Center's experts.
About The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources
The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources provides community and school-based education programs about alcohol and drug abuse and advocates for responsive prevention and treatment services. The Center's offices are located in Hackensack and its services are available throughout Bergen County. The Center is a program of Children's Aid and Family Services, one of the leading nonprofit human services organizations serving northern New Jersey. The agency is fully accredited and has served the community for 110 years. Its mission is to preserve, protect and, when needed, provide families. Motivated by compassion for vulnerable children, young adults, frail elderly and their families, it provides high-quality and innovative services that meet their social, educational and emotional needs. For more information, call 201.261.2800 or visit www.cafsnj.org. | 
