By for Summit Medical Group

By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group

On November 12, 2011, Summit Medical Group invites area residents
to safely discard unwanted and expired medications
from 10 AM to 2 PM
at Walgreens Pharmacy
located in Lawrence Pavilion
at 1 Diamond Hill Road in Berkeley Heights.

Did you know that Americans abuse prescription medicines more than any other drugs, with the exception of marijuana?¹ A National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that 70% of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from friends and relatives. In addition, a Partnership for a Drug-free America (PDFA) study shows that 1 in 9 US children abuse prescription pain relievers. 

For these reasons and as part of the American Medicine Chest Challenge, Summit Medical Group encourages everyone to:

• Take stock of prescription and nonprescription medications in your medicine chest and around your house
• Lock your medicine chest, particularly if you have children in the home
• Discard your unused, unwanted, and expired medications at the nearest American Medicine Chest Challenge disposal site
• Always take your medications as prescribed
• Talk with your children about the dangers of prescription and nonprescription drug abuse

Summit Medical Group pharmacist Walter Cifuentes, RPh, says, "One way area residents can help combat drug abuse is by making sure they store only the medications they need and use." Mr. Cifuentes adds, "All medications also should be kept in a locked cabinet."

"Each American Medicine Chest Challenge helps raise awareness about the dangers of prescription and nonprescription drug abuse," says Mr. Cifuentes. "The Challenges also give the community a safe and convenient way to dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted medications. For a second consecutive year, Summit Medical Group is pleased to partner with the American Medicine Chest Challenge and the Berkeley Heights Police Department in helping make a safer community! Last year," says Mr. Cifuentes, "we collected 250 pounds of unused medication."

The Partnership for a Drug-free America and American College of Emergency Physicians provide national support for the American Medicine Chest Challenge. 

Reference
1. US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey on Drug Use and Health. http://www.samhsa.gov/. Accessed November 3, 2010.