Cranford Participates in First Statewide Medicine Disposal Day

The Cranford Police Department is participating in the first ever statewide medicine disposal day as a part of an initiative to cut back on prescription medicine abuse by youths.

Residents can drop off unused, unwanted or expired medicine in room 7 at the municipal building on Springfield Avenue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 14 as part of the Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey intiative.

"The abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs is too often overlooked as a public safety and community health issue," said Cranford Police Chief Eric Mason. "Through our participation in operation Medicine Cabinet, we are encouraging residents to properly dispose of their unwanted or expired medicines, and we are bringing this important issue to light."

An alarming number of New Jersey’s youth are intentionally abusing prescription medicines to get high, according to a series of studies conducted by state agencies.

The 2007 study by the National Study of Drug‐Use and Health found that 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives.

A recent study on drug use by New Jersey middle school students conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) found that in half the schools surveyed prescription drugs are abused more than twice that of ecstasy and cocaine. Another PDFNJ study found that 47 percent of the parents of middle school students know very little about prescription drug abuse.

To help combat this growing threat to children, the United States Senate has deemed October 2009 as National Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month.

Operation Medicine Cabinet provides a means for community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine.

This statewide initiative is the first of its kind in the nation. The statewide effort is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the Partnership for a Drug‐Free New Jersey, Cranford Police Department, as well as dozens of federal, state, county and local law enforcement, and prevention organizations in the state.

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in New Jersey, and the easiest way to combat it is to properly dispose of old medicine. 

For more information, please contact Detective Lt. Robert Colaneri at 908-709-7358 and visit www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.com.