In the four weeks since Project Medicine Drop was launched, more than 40 pounds worth of unused or unwanted prescription drugs have been dropped off in a secured box in the lobby of the Lawrence Township Municipal Courts/Police Department building.

Project Medicine Drop provides a place for anyone with unused, unwanted or expired prescription medicine to drop off the drugs every day, around the clock in a secured box that looks like a mail box. The Lawrence Township Police Department disposes of the drugs.

The project was launched last month in conjunction with the state Division of Consumer Affairs of the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Anyone can drop off medicine in the drop box, even if they do not live in Lawrence Township.

I am glad to see that the community is taking advantage of such a worthwhile program, Acting Chief of Police Mark Ubry said Monday.

The cleaning out of expired, unwanted and unused prescription medication is something that everyone should take time out of their busy schedule to do in order to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, he said.

The diversion of prescription drugs into the hands of those who should not possess them has reached epidemic proportions, said Douglas Collier, drug initiative coordinator in the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Youngsters often search their parents medicine cabinet for drugs and may experiment with them or sell them, Mr. Collier said when the project was launched last month at the Lawrence Township Municipal Courts/Police Department building.

Young people in the 18- to 25-year-old age group are most likely to engage in the use and abuse of prescription drugs, and thats why it is important to keep the drugs out of their hands, Mr. Collier said.

The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs encourages parents and grandparents to discuss with young family members all of the dangers of taking prescription and over-the-counter medication for non-medical and no-approved uses, and to let them know that the adults are keeping tabs on the medicines in the house.

Adults should keep an inventory of all medicines in the house. The drugs should be kept in one place possibly in a locked cabinet, a locked drawer or in a childproof lockbox. Medicine intended for one person should not be given to someone else, because a drug that is prescribed for a specific person may be harmful to someone else.

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