Doctors Launch Prescription Drug Take-Back Program on Metro Atlanta College Campuses

ATLANTA – In an effort to help stem prescription drug abuse, The Medical Association of Georgia Foundation announced today it is launching a Higher Education TAKE-BACK Initiative with the creation of drug drop boxes on several metro campuses including Kennesaw State University.

This program is part of the Think About It campaign aimed at reducing prescription drug abuse in Georgia – particularly among college students.

The TAKE-BACK program includes several key components, such as:

· Funding prescription drug drop boxes for KSU students. Students and other residents will be able to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs on an anonymous, “no-questions-asked” basis. The Marietta drop box is located in the Police Station Lobby – 1st Floor Norton Hall. The Kennesaw drop box is located in the Police Station Lobby - 351 Paulding Ave., near the Social Science building and the West Deck.

· Providing colleges and universities in the state with posters that will address how students can safely dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs.

· Developing resources to raise awareness at colleges and universities in the state, including a web site and a social media campaign.

“We thank and applaud Kennesaw State University in Marietta for demonstrating such great vision and leadership,” says MAG Foundation President Jack M. Chapman Jr., M.D. “This is the kind of action and resources we need to begin to turn the tide on the prescription drug abuse epidemic in Georgia.”

KSU is part of a metro wide effort to raise awareness about prescription drug abuse and safe disposal of unused medications. Drop boxes will also be placed at Morehouse College in Atlanta, the University of West Georgia in Carrollton and at five campuses of Georgia State University in metro Atlanta.

Dr. Chapman said that the MAG Foundation has previously funded drug drop boxes at Armstrong State University in Savannah and the University of Georgia in Athens. The MAG Foundation also has distributed more than 1 million educational leaflets at Georgia pharmacies and given talks about the issue of prescription drug abuse and the need for proper disposal of medications at more than 50 town halls and 20 physician education events.

For more information, contact Lori Cassity Murphy at 678.303.9282 or lmurphy@mag.org For additional information go to www.rxdrugabuse.com.