West Milford The West Milford Police Department is participating in the American Medicine Chest Challenge Saturday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Anyone can bring their unused, unwanted and expired medications to the police station as part of a statewide medicine disposal day. The initiative was organized to encourage residents to properly dispose of their medication and to help raise awareness about prescription drug abuse, which is on the rise. Fore more information go to www.AmericanMedicineChest.com or contact the West Milford Police Department at 973-728-2802. Valley Road.Dispose of your prescription drugs safely at police department West Milford Police Department to participate in American Medicine Chest Challenge West Milford The West Milford Police Department will be hosting an American Medicine Chest Challenge New Jersey local collection site as part of the statewide medicine disposal day in the nation. The event will take place at the police department, 1480 Union Valley Road, West Milford between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage local community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medications. Residents looking for information on the local collection location information should visit www.AmericanMedicineChest.com. Acting West Milford Police Chief Gene Chiosie and West Milford Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) Coordinator Marlene Terhune are endorsing this program as an opportunity to raise public awareness regarding prescription drug abuse and to provide a way for residents to dispose of unneeded and expired prescription medication in a safe manner. The police department, school administration and CASA continue to work cooperatively through drug abuse education programs to target the community’s at risk youth population. However, the police department has seen an increase in prescription and hard drug abuse, which often starts with readily available prescription drugs in the home. In the 2007 study by the National Study of Drug Use and Health, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that upwards of nine million people use prescription medication for non medical uses. They noted that the 2007 Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) Principals Survey found that half of the principals surveyed said that New Jersey middle school students abuse prescription drugs more than twice that of ecstasy and cocaine. Residents are encouraged to bring their unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs to the West Milford Police Department on Nov. 13, between the 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For further information, residents should go to www.AmericanMedicineChest.com or contact the West Milford Police Department at 973-728-2802.