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Health & Fitness

Local Residents Providing Resources to Prevent Prescription Medication Theft

The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT) will host a Lunch and Learn informational session with Realtors and Real Estate Agents throughout Essex County on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at 170 Scotland Road, Orange, NJ 07050.

Concerned residents are leading this campaign throughout Essex County aimed at reducing prescription medication theft during open house events. An ABC News report recently discussed a new trend where individuals steal prescription medication from medicine cabinets during open house events.

Prescription medication abuse and misuse is a growing issue and continues to be a pressing concern in our local communities. Nearly one-third of people age 12 or older who tried an illicit drug for the first time in the past year began by using a prescription medication for non-medical reasons. Joel Torres, ADAPT’s Senior Coordinator, stated, “The Lunch and Learn is a great opportunity to find collaborative opportunities between our Coalition and local Realtors and Real Estate Agents in order to decrease prescription medication theft, abuse, and misuse throughout the county. We will provide these professionals with important resources to help them become change agents in their field.”

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Space is filling up and a reservation is required for the luncheon. For details or to RSVP, contact Joel Torres at 973-323-3907 or jtorres@familyconnectionsnj.org.

 

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ABOUT ADAPT

ADAPT is a rich, diverse coalition of more than 100 volunteers, including parents, youth, educators, prevention professionals, law enforcement officials, etc., from all over Essex County. Through community-level interventions, ADAPT strives to decrease underage drinking and tobacco use and prescription drug abuse and misuse by all residents throughout Essex County while also empowering all residents to choose healthier lifestyles.

ADAPT is funded by the NJ division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (NJ DMHAS) and the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). It is managed by FAMILYConnections, a non-profit community-based agency with more than 35 specialized programs for all ages from infants to seniors – including counseling, skills-building, training, and prevention services to improve quality of life by reducing child abuse, drug abuse, gang involvement and crime; by increasing social  & coping skills, school success and employability; by healing emotional pain and helping individuals and families become strong and independent.

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