Operation Medicine Cabinet

November 4, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO
Phone: (856) 384-5617; Pager (856) 251-4736
Re.: Operation Medicine Cabinet preparations

Collection boxes have been distributed this week throughout Gloucester County for Operation Medicine Cabinet, an effort by law enforcement and other partners to remove from homes unused prescription medicines that are commonly abused.

Anyone who has unused and expired medications can drop them off at all 24 police departments in the county and the County Store in the Deptford Mall on November 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with no questions asked. Labels on medicine vials can be peeled off, inked out, or the medications can be placed in a plastic bag.

In addition to all municipal police departments and the Rowan University Police, the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office, Underwood-Memorial Hospital and Gloucester County Emergency Medical Services are assisting.

This is part of a statewide effort headed by the New Jersey Division of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New Jersey office of the Attorney General and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. It is the first statewide initiative of its kind in the nation.

The collection program addresses a well-recognized problem of abusing or misusing medicines, especially among the young.

“Law enforcement is concerned with the alarming trend in the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, with potential access to these drugs coming from the medicine
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cabinets of family and friends,” said Gerard P. McAleer, DEA Special Agent-in-
Charge.

“This operation will reduce the availability of potent drugs that lead kids down a path of addiction,” said New Jersey Attorney General Ann Milgram.

“With Operation Medicine Cabinet, we are calling on New Jersey residents to see
their medicine cabinets through new eyes- as an access point for potential misuse and abuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicine by young people,” said Angelo M. Valente, executive director, Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.

Gloucester County Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton said he was pleased with the 100 percent participation of the county’s law enforcement agencies. “Unused medications lying around the house can be as dangerous as a weapon in the wrong hands. We are asking everyone to drop off their old medications at their local police departments to help make their community safer.”

Following are the collection sites:
Clayton Police, 125 N. Delsea Dr., (856) 881-2301.
Deptford Police, 1011 Cooper St., (856) 845-2223.
East Greenwich Police, 159 Democrat Rd., (856) 423-4322.
Elk Police, 667 Whig Lane Rd. Monroeville, (856) 881-6688.
Franklin Police, Coles Mill Rd., (856) 694-0221.
Glassboro Police, 1 So. Main St., (856) 881-1501.
Rowan University Police, 201 Mullica Hill Rd., (856) 256-4922.
Greenwich Police, 421 W. Broad St., (856) 423-1950.
Harrison Police, 137 N. Main St., Mullica Hill, (856) 478-6839.
Logan Police, 125 Main St. Bridgeport, (856) 467-0061
Mantua Police, 405 Main St., (856) 468-1920.
Monroe Police, 125 Virginia Ave., Williamstown, (856) 728-9800.
National Park Police, 114 Crown Point Rd., Westville, (856) 456-9444.
Newfield Police, 18 Catawba Ave., (856) 697-0577.
Paulsboro Police, 1211 N. Delaware St., (856) 423-1101.
Pitman Police, 110 S. Broadway, (856) 589-3501.
South Harrison Police, 664 Harrisonville Rd., (856) 769-3737.
Washington Twp. Police, 1 McClure Dr., (856) 589-6650.
Wenonah Police, 1 S. West Ave., (856) 468-6262.
West Deptford Police, 400 Crown Point Rd., (856) 853-4599.
Westville Police, 114 Crown Point Rd., (856) 456-9444.
Woodbury Police, 200 N. Broad St., (856) 845-0065.
Woodbury Heights Police, 500 Elm Ave., (856) 848-6707.
Woolwich Police, 120 Village Green Dr., (856) 467-1667.