The West Milford Police Department will be participating in the nationwide American Medicine Chest Challenge this Saturday.

During the Nov. 9 event, police in communities across the country will educate people about the safe handling of medicine, and encourage them to take the five-step American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC):

- Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.

- Secure your medicine chest.

- Dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine in your home or at an American Medicine Chest Challenge disposal site.

- Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed.

- Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

The West Milford Police Department is hosting its own AMCC between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Residents can find a local collection site at the West Milford Police Department, 1480 Union Valley Road; look up additional sites on americanmedicinechestchallenge.com; or dispose of their medicine at home, following the guidelines on the website.

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows prescription medicines to be the most abused drugs by Americans (excepting marijuana), and 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 of teens by the Partnership for a Drug Free American (PDFA) found that one in nine children are abusing prescription pain relievers to get high.

"This challenge will raise awareness about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and reduce the availability of potent drugs that lead kids down a path to addiction" said AMCC Chief Executive Officer Angelo Valente. "With the American Medicine Chest Challenge, we are calling on 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."

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West Milford police participating in American Medicine Chest Challenge