Gloucester pharmacist Keith Hodges was a key figure this week during the nationwide launch of "Safeguard My Meds," a new education initiative that targets misuse of prescription medicines.

Hodges, who owns Gloucester Pharmacy at Walter Reed Plaza, said Tuesday that he was handling questions from mostly large media outlets and the Gazette-Journal was one of the few smaller newspapers selected for reporters’ questions.

Calling the Gazette-Journal from New York, Hodges said he was speaking alongside Catherine Hicks, a well-known actress ("7th Heaven") who has become involved as a concerned parent in the national effort to prevent prescription medication abuse.

A spokesman for the "Safeguard My Meds" campaign said the national media launch was planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. Hodges was the pharmacist selected to represent the project, said Harry Wade, a spokesman for Wade Health Communications in New York City, which coordinated the public awareness campaign on behalf of the National Community Pharmacists Association. Hodges serves on the association’s executive committee.

Citing a new national survey, Hodges said more than 90 percent of Americans said it is extremely or very important to store and dispose of prescription medicines safely. However, Hodges said too often these medications are used improperly.

The main thrust of the media campaign, Hodges said, is to stop the use of prescription medications by people for whom they were not prescribed. In addition, Hodges said it is important for those prescribed the medicine to take it correctly.

Far too often, Hodges said, teenagers are getting hold of prescription medicines and using them for reasons for which they were not intended. In fact, he said teens abuse prescription drugs more than any other illegal drug except for marijuana.

Speaking in a separate interview a short time later, Hicks said that she is at fault for leaving medications out on the counter or not locked up at her Los Angeles home. Hicks said she was approached by Purdue Pharma L.P. about speaking out as a concerned parent advocate on the prescription drug abuse and then the pharmacists’ association entered the campaign as well.

Because she is concerned for the safety of her daughter, Catie, 18, a freshman at the University of Southern California, Hicks said she agreed to speak out and urge people throughout the country to take stock of their prescription medications and to use them wisely.

Several episodes of "7th Heaven" dealt with drug abuse issues, Hicks said of the show’s 11-season run. If the show were still in production, Hicks said, "I bet the writer would pick up on this new (prescription medication abuse) issue and write it into the show."

Hodges said that pharmacists are taking the lead in urging parents to take charge of their family’s medicine cabinet. He recommended locking the medications in a closet or other place that cannot be readily accessed without authorization.

Also, Hodges said that prescription medications should not be stored in the bathroom, which can compromise the effectiveness of the medicine because of heat and humidity often found there.

"The mother in me" is what prodded Hicks to speak out. She said that too many parents are idly sitting by while many teenagers and others are abusing prescriptions.

Besides getting the word out on the high incidence of prescription medication abuse, Hodges said, pharmacists want to encourage everyone to dispose of unused and outdated medicines safely. Hodges said that many people traditionally have flushed the medicines down the toilet, but this is unwise since it can harm the environment.

Information on safe medicine storage, along with a variety of tips, can be found at www.SafeguardMyMeds.org, Hicks said. There, visitors can take a "Personal Responsibility Pledge" and make a commitment to safeguard the prescription medicine and help keep it out of the wrong hands.

Hodges opened Gloucester Pharmacy in 1998. He employs 22 people there, including three pharmacists.

Hicks is best-known for her role as Annie Camden on "7th Heaven," Wade said, and also received an Emmy nomination for her performance as Marilyn Monroe in the television motion picture, "Marilyn, the Untold Story." Some of her other roles have included "Star Trek: The Voyage Home," Peggy Sue Got Married" and "Childsplay."