{"id":8211,"date":"2017-09-20T15:01:17","date_gmt":"2017-09-20T19:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/news\/?p=8211"},"modified":"2017-09-20T15:24:00","modified_gmt":"2017-09-20T19:24:00","slug":"freeholders-institute-initiative-to-fight-public-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/news\/2017\/09\/freeholders-institute-initiative-to-fight-public-health-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Freeholders institute initiative to fight public health crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Freeholder Board, local law enforcement and healthcare providers announced a new effort to increase public use and visibility of prescription drug drop boxes to combat the opioid crisis. The Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force<\/a> made it a point to install standard drop boxes located in police departments throughout the county in 2015. Now, new, mobile drop boxes located in county vehicles will begin to be deployed to events throughout the county this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know unused and expired prescription medicines are dangerous and can easily fall into the wrong hands if not disposed of properly,\u201d said Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. \u201cThe mobile drop boxes are going to make it easier than ever to safely dispose of those dangerous pills and prescriptions. This will not be a one day event, but a concerted effort to make these units more available to the community on a consistent basis.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the United States, 142 people are killed by a drug overdose every day. Of individuals who use heroin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 75 percent started with using prescription medication first creating a direct gateway for addiction. By taking unused medications out of people\u2019s hands and homes, Camden County can significantly reduce the likelihood of an individual taking prescription medications that they don\u2019t need or someone stealing them.<\/p>\n

Rachel Haroz, MD<\/a>, board certified emergency medicine, toxicology and addictions medicine physician at Cooper University Health Care, said these new mobile drop boxes will provide another tool in the battle against the scourge of opioid abuse.<\/p>\n

\n\n