The American Medicine Chest Challenge

Over Ten Tons of Unused, Unwanted, and Expired Medicine are Collected in AMCC

Contact: Angela Conover, Media Relations

201-916-1030 (c ) 973-467-2138 (office)

conover@americanmedicinechest.com 

Over Ten Tons of Unused, Unwanted, and Expired Medicine are Collected in the American Medicine Chest Challenge a National Public Health Initiative held on November 13^th in 37 States 

WASHINGTON --- On November 13, 2010, a historic and lifesaving event --- The American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) --- a public health initiative to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse featuring a nationwide day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine was held in 37 states and resulted in thousands of residents disposing over ten tons of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. 

AMCC was created to help families 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 and to provide an opportunity to properly dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines. All Americans are also urged to take the five step American Medicine Chest Challenge found at americanmedicinechest.com,” explained Angelo M. Valente, Chief Executive Officer of AMCC. 

“While we are very proud of the efforts to collect thousands of pounds of medicine, equating to the combined weight of 80 NFL football players, what is most important is protecting one child from accessing and abusing even one pill,” said Valente. 

"By taking unused potent medicines out of their bathroom medicine cabinets, parents have eliminated a temptation to abuse prescription drugs," said Sharon Brigner, a deputy vice president at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), a founding sponsor of AMCC.  

AMCC was also supported by the American College of Emergency Physicians, the Partnership at DrugFree.org, Generic Pharmaceutical Association, and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association. The parent organization of AMCC is the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. 

According to SAMHSA’s 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtained them from friends or relatives and indicated more than 6 million Americans used a prescription medication for nonmedical purposes in the past 30 days. Also, according to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, there has been a 400% increase in substance abuse treatment admissions for people abusing prescription drugs. 

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