November 18, 2009
Contact: DEA Special Agent Douglas S. Collier, M.A.
Public Information Officer
TEL: (973) 776-1143
Contact: Angela Conover, PDFNJ
973-467-2100, ext. 25
Thousands of New Jersey Residents Prescribe to Operation Medicine Cabinet
  
Over 9,000 Pounds of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicine Collected During
First in the Nation Day of Disposal
NOV 18  -- (Newark) - Gerard P. McAleer, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division and Angelo M. Valente, the Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), announced today that over 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of over $35 million, was collected during Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey, the first in the nation statewide day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine. This statewide effort is being spearheaded by the DEA New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and the PDFNJ, with partnership and support by many other local and statewide prevention and enforcement organizations. (Please see attached list
.)
Over 440 local police departments and sheriff 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 November 14th, clearing their homes of over 9,000 pounds of prescription and over-the- counter medicine.
L to R: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey - announcing the Operation Medicine and Cabinet Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey  Operation Medicine Cabinet
Photo displays meds turned in under the OMC program on 11-14-2009. L to R: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey- announcing the Operation Medicine Cabinet, Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, and Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywomen, 11 District, New Jersey Assembly