NJ Offers an Unwanted Drug Collection Program December 9
In an effort to stem the damaging toll of prescription drug abuse among teens and other users New Jersey offered citizens the opportunity to get rid of their unwanted drugs safely. As a part of Operation Medicine Cabinet 70 South Jersey Police stations accepted unwanted drugs. The program was offered by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey’s, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey and the Attorney General’s Office and could become an annual event. As much as 20% of the US population of citizens 12 years of age and older have abused prescription drugs according to NIDA. Most common users are teens, older adults and women.
According to a survey among 12th graders done in 2007 7 out of 10 drugs abused were over the counter or prescription drugs. Almost 10% of these teens reported having abused Vicodin and as many as 4.7% reported trying OxyContin two of the most powerful pain medications. Percocet, Codeine, Xanax and Valium were also reported among those abused.
New Jersey hopes that their step in collecting such drugs will become a national standard that could help stem the flow of prescription drug abuse across the country by removing the availability of such drugs. No questions were asked about the source of the drugs and no id was taken from those who dropped off their unwanted drugs. Despite media attention for the abuse of these drugs many parents still focus on the use of illegal drugs instead of the more serious problem of prescription drug abuse. Many parents aren’t aware of the problem as well.
Tags: drug abuse, drug collection, new jersey, operation medicien cabinet, precroptions, prevention