American Medical Chest Challenge Set for Nov. 12

On Nov. 12, The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC)–a public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, will be held in communities throughout New Jersey, including Morris County.

The New Jersey event is being coordinated by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey (SANJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration–New Jersey.

This initiative will challenge Morris County residents to take the Five-Step American Medicine Chest Challenge:
• Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.
• Lock 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.

Bring your unused, unwanted and expired medicine to one of two sites in
Morris County on Saturday, Nov. 12 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2
p.m. The two sites are:

• , 195 Main St. in Chatham Borough
• , 100 Madison Ave., in Morristown
• Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, Lobby 1, 500 West Hanover Ave., in Parsippany

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, statewide event that netted over 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of over $35 million, while simultaneously garnering over $1 million 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.