Operation Medicine Cabinet takes drugs out of N.J. homes

More than 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of more than $35 million, was collected during Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey, the statewide day of disposal of unused, unwanted and expired medicine.

The effort was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), with partnership and support by many other local and statewide prevention and enforcement organizations.

More than 440 local police departments and sheriffs' departments, in all of New Jersey's 21 counties, hosted collection sites where New Jersey residents came out in force to support Operation Medicine Cabinet and rid their homes of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines on Nov. 14, clearing their homes of more than 9,000 pounds of prescription and over-the-counter medicine.

"This initiative reduced the availability of prescription drugs that could have been abused by our family members and friends," said Gerard P. McAleer, special agent in charge of the DEA, New Jersey division. "Approximately 3.5 million pills have been voluntarily discarded and properly disposed, with the assistance of community members, law enforcement agencies, and prevention and treatment organizations throughout the state."

"Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey accomplished two main goals. First and foremost, it generated unprecedented attention to the issue of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse, and secondly, it caused tens of thousands of New Jersey residents to look at their medicine cabinets as a potential source for young people to access highly addictive and deadly drugs," Angelo M. Valente, executive director of PDFNJ, said.B

ased on the success of the operation, the program organizers are planning to expand the program to other states throughout the country, according to a press release.