FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Individuals who wish to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs may do so during the 2012 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event hosted April 28 at the Post Exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day was initiated in September 2010 by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to encourage American citizens to turn in unused or expired prescribed medication for proper disposal. After it was reported that 242,000 pounds (121 tons) of prescription drugs had been turned in by the American public, 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 throughout the country in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
This marks the fourth time this event has been hosted in the U.S. The DEA has yielded continued success in following events, collecting 376,593 pounds (188 tons) in April 2011 and 377,086 (188.5 tons) in November 2011, respectively.
According to DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, "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." She added that these events have "dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue."
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. The Take-Back Day here is being hosted by personnel assigned to McDonald Army Health Center Pharmacy Services. The Health Center's support of this initiative will undoubtedly aid in bringing national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
The Health Center has worked closely with local DEA and law enforcement officials on carrying out the proper procedures for accepting, handling and disposing of all medications collected, and Buck anticipates yet another successful event. Along with members of the Provost Marshal Office, Sgt. 1st Class Taurus Buck, Pharmacy Services NCOIC, will be present throughout this event to monitor the collection process.
"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 flushed down the toilet," Buck said.
Sadly, community residents are often unaware of these potential dangers and often think to simply flush drugs down the toilet or toss them away in the trash as a means of disposal. But, Dr. Heather Pena, BCPS, warns against this.
"Drugs should never enter into our water supply, and therefore flushing or putting medications down the sink is bad for our environment," explained Pena, the Health Center's Clinical Pharmacist and acting Chief of Pharmacy. "This is a great opportunity for our patients to dispose of their medications safely. It is also imperative that patients do not just throw out there medications in their trash. Children, animals, and others may take them 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."
Keeping these medicines in the home is regarded as a critical public health issue, as some become "highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse." Reports show 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.
"This is a significant event to promote health and wellness for our community and environment," said Pena, the Health Center's clinical pharmacist and acting Chief of Pharmacy Services. "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." During the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event, a prescription take-back location will be set up inside the Post Exchange.
"We are hoping to promote safety, health, wellness, and conservation of our environment by holding this event," Pena said. "The prescriptions that are collected are disposed of properly. They are not reused in any way."