MCDONALD ARMY HEALTH CENTER, FORT EUSTIS, VA –
The McDonald Army Health Center is hosting the 2012 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event Sept. 29 at the Fort Eustis, Va., Post Exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This drug take-back day event will give the Fort Eustis community an opportunity to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs that may be piling up at home, in a medicine cabinet or bathroom drawer.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration initiated National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, September 2010 to encourage Americans to turn in unused or expired prescribed medication for proper disposal.
After reports showed that 242,000 pounds of prescription drugs had been turned in, Congress passed legislation amending the Controlled Substances Act to allow the DEA to develop a more permanent process for people to safely and conveniently dispose of their prescription drugs. This resulted in take-back sites being made available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
According to DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, these events have "dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue."
"The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs," Leonhart said.
The U.S. Army is on board with providing continued support of this initiative as well. In a collaborative effort, U.S. Army Installations Management Command and U.S. Army Medical Command are coordinating Army support on Army installations. MDAHC Pharmacy Services personnel will host the Take-Back Day here. The Health Center's support of this initiative is bringing national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
As the Health Center gears up to host this event once again, it works closely with local DEA and law enforcement officials to carry out the proper procedures for accepting, handling and disposing of all medications collected. Along with members of the Provost Marshal Office, Sgt. 1st Class Taurus Buck, Pharmacy Services non-commissioned officer-in-charge, will be present throughout this event to monitor the collection process.
According to Buck, this event will educate the community of the dangers associated with keeping unwanted medications in the home as well as the effects these medications can have on our environment if residents flush these drugs down the toilet - something the Health Center warns against. Unfortunately, community residents are often unaware of the potential dangers associated with flushing drugs down the toilet or tossing them away in the trash as a means of disposal.
The Health Center's Clinical Pharmacist and acting Chief of Pharmacy, Dr. Heather Pena, BCPS, said it's not healthy to dispose of medications this way. According to Pena, the prescription drug take-back events present a great opportunity for patients to dispose of their medications safely would prefer that residents refrain from taking such actions.
"Drugs should never enter into our water supply, and therefore flushing or putting medications down the sink is bad for our environment," said Pena, adding that it is also imperative that patients do not just throw out there medications in their trash.
"Children or animals may take these medications out of the garbage and ingest them. The best way to do this is to crush the medications and then mix them with used coffee grounds or kitty litter and then throw this mixture away. Sharps containers must always be used for medications that are injected." Pena said.
Keeping expired or unused medicines in the home is consisdered a critical public health issue, as some individuals become "highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse." It has been reported that more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined.
The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health states that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends for free, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Purging America's home medicine cabinets of unwanted or expired medications is one of four action items outlined in the White House's prescription drug abuse prevention strategy entitled "Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis." The other action items include education of health care providers, patients, parents and youth; establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in all the states; and increased enforcement to address "doctor shopping" and pill mills.
"Having medications that are expired or no longer needed in the home can be a potential hazard. It also has the potential to lead to drug misuse and abuse. Our pharmacy team is committed to helping educate our community about the proper use, storage, handling, and disposal of all prescription and non-prescription drugs," Pena said. "This is a significant event to promote health and wellness for our community and environment."