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 a host of college campuses throughout metro Atlanta.

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

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

· The funding of prescription drug drop boxes so students and other residents will be able to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs on an anonymous, “no-questions-asked” basis. The boxes will be placed on Georgia State University campuses in Atlanta, Clarkston, Covington, Decatur and Dunwoody. Drop boxes will also be placed on the campuses of Kennesaw State University in Marietta; Morehouse College in Atlanta; and the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.

· Developing a website and social media campaign at colleges and universities throughout the state about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and how to safely dispose of unused medications.

· Providing colleges and universities in the state posters and other literature to address how students can safely dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs.

“We thank and applaud each university for demonstrating such great vision and leadership for wanting to participate in such a program,” 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.”

The efforts in metro Atlanta are part of a larger effort launched statewide about raising awareness about prescription drug abuse and safe disposal of unused medications.

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 new drug drop boxes will be located at campus police offices at university and college police departments in metro Atlanta. Students can call their campus security office to find the exact location.

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 medication 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.