Safely Dispose of Unwanted Medications During Operation Medicine Cabinet

May 24, 2010 - PRLog -- Safely dispose of unwanted or expired medications during Operation Medicine Cabinet, Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the AT&T Sports Arena parking lot in Palmer, Alaska. Mat-Su Borough is partnering with Alaska State Troopers and the Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition for the event, which is designed to prevent misuse and abuse.  

“It’s about keeping our community safe,” said John Duffy, Mat-Su Borough manager.  

"Operation Medicine Cabinet is a valuable community service that helps educate the public on how proper disposal protects loved ones from accidental ingestion, protects the environment by keeping drugs from entering the water supply, and prevents drug abuse.”

In particular, prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise, said Desiree Compton, project coordinator with the Mat-Su Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. “Teens are accessing drugs in their own homes. It’s as easy as walking to the medicine cabinet,” she said.

Twelve to 17 year olds abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.  Every day, 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs for the first time to get high.

“Safe and proper disposal can help keep those drugs out of the wrong hands,” said Compton.

The collection site will be supervised by Capt. Dennis Casanovas, with Alaska State Troopers. Immediately following the event, the medications will be taken off site, weighed and incinerated.

To protect privacy, participants are asked to remove or black out personal information on medication bottles. For more information on Operation Medicine Cabinet call (907) 745-9557 or go to http://www.OperationMedicineCabinet.org.

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