Bateman, Community Leaders to Host Prescription Drug Disposal Event at Hunterdon Healthcare
MEDIA ADVISORY (9/6): Bateman, Community Leaders to Host Prescription Drug Disposal Event at Hunterdon Healthcare
As part of an ongoing effort to combat New Jersey’s opioid abuse epidemic, Senator Kip Bateman (R-16) will join forces with local officials and representatives from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals to host a prescription drug disposal event at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Hunterdon Healthcare in Flemington, New Jersey.
The event is open to the public and the media is encouraged to attend and help spread the word about the need to properly dispose of prescription medication.
Senator Kip Bateman, local leaders, and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals will host a prescription drop-off event on Sept. 6 at Hunterdon Healthcare in Flemington, NJ. (Wikimedia Commons)
The majority of teenagers who abuse prescription drugs acquire the substances at the home of a friend or family member, according to the United States Department of Justice.
“A life-threatening prescription drug problem often starts in one of the safest places we can imagine – our homes. An old bottle of painkillers left on a bathroom shelf may seem harmless, but for countless teens, a couple of pills left unattended is as dangerous as it gets,” Senator Bateman said. “No child should be able to easily access a medication that can be abused or sold for a profit.
“Participating in a prescription drop-off program is one the best ways to protect our daughters, sons, and neighbors from the perils of addiction. I encourage everyone in the area to join us and take action to combat New Jersey’s opioid crisis by safely disposing of the prescription drugs that are sitting in your home right now,” Bateman added.
WHAT: Prescription Drug Disposal Event
WHO: Senator Kip Bateman (R-16); Mark Trudeau, Mallinckrodt CEO & President; Frederick W. Brown, Hunterdon County Sheriff; Anthony P. Kearns, III, Hunterdon County Prosecutor; William R. Healey, Hunterdon Healthcare Director of Donor and Community Relations; and Eric Orlando, Kaufman Zita Group Senior Vice President.
WHEN: Thursday, September 6, at 4 p.m.
WHERE: Hunterdon Healthcare Hospital: 2100 Wescott Drive, Flemington, NJ 08822.
AVAILABILITY: OPEN
CONTACT Emily Everson, NJ Senate Republican Office: 609-847-3600; Rhonda Sciarra, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: 908-238-6765.
Bateman also noted that Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals will be donating 5,000 drug deactivation pouches to Hunterdon Healthcare to help support safe communities and prevent prescription opioid abuse and misuse.
A drug deactivation pouch is a user-friendly sealed bag that neutralizes prescription drugs and renders them safe for landfills.
“As a company focused on the health and well-being of our patients and communities, Mallinckrodt has long been a strong advocate of addressing the complex issues of opioid misuse and abuse that cause so much harm to families,” Mark Trudeau, Mallinckrodt President and Chief Executive Officer, said. “We share the concerns of people across the nation, and believe that providing patients with a safe, environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused medications is critical in this fight against prescription drug abuse. Mallinckrodt is committed to working with policy makers, community leaders, law enforcement and industry partners to ensure the responsible use of pain medication and prevent unused medications from ending up in the wrong hands.”
