February 20, 2015
The county's Addiction Awareness Task Force installed drop boxes to fight opiate abuse — and also to avoid health and safety hazards posed by other methods like flushing pills down the toilet or throwing them away. According to the organization, more than 300 tons of unwanted prescription drugs were dropped off in 2014 at over 5,400 drop-off sites across the country.
“As a mother, educator and elected official, the addiction crisis in Camden County is one of my biggest concerns" said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. "Prescription drugs have become the number one abused substance by young people because they are accessible and go fairly undetected. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Parents and grandparents become the unwitting supplier of these dangerous substances.”
The Addiction Awareness Task Force advises those suffering from addiction to call their toll-free confidential hotline for addiction help at 877-266-8222.
You can find a list of drop box locations on the The Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force's website.
