November 13th American Medicine Chest Challenge Day

We have frost on the windows this morning. It is 35 degrees outside and a cool 70 indoors.

I did some time at the on the corner of North Main Street and West Poplar Street yesterday. I was there with the members of the Crittenden County Coalition for a Drug Free Community, our local Sheriff, Police Chief and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force.

The event took place on November 13, 2010 in communities across the country.

This initiative will challenge residents to take the Five-Step American Medicine Chest Challenge:

• Take inventory of your prescription and over-the-counter medicine.

• Lock your medicine chest.

• Dispose of your unused, unwanted, and expired medicine in your home at an American Medicine Chest Challenge Disposal site.


In Crittenden County it is our Local Police Station and Sheriffs Office during their normal day working hours (9AM to 3PM).


• Take your medicine(s) exactly as prescribed.

• Talk to your children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

To help combat this growing threat to our nations children, Crittenden County Coalition for a Drug-Free Community, Crittenden County and the City of Marion are hosting the American Medicine Chest Challenge (AMCC) on November 13, 2010, residents can find us at the local collection site mentioned above.


The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows prescription medicines to be the most abused drugs by Americans, other than marijuana and found that 70% of people who abuse
prescription pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives. A recent study on drug use by of teens by the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA) found that one in 9 children are abusing
prescription pain relievers to get high.

"This Challenge will raise awareness about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and reduce the availability of potent drugs that lead kids down a path to addiction,'' explained American Medicine Chest Challenge Chief Executive Officer Angelo M. Valente.

“With the American Medicine Chest Challenge we are calling on residents to see their medicine cabinets through new eyes -- as an access point for potential misuse and abuse of over-the-counter and
prescription medicine by young people,” explained Valente.

Call your local police department for more information in your area.