Drug Take-Back scheduled Sept. 26

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
The 66th Security Forces Squadron will hold a Drug Take-Back event Sept. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service lobby.

In conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hanscom Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will offer personnel a safe, secure and convenient venue to dispose unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication. Officials cannot accept liquids or needles.

"Hanscom has participated in the 'Take-Back' nine times over the past three years and more than 450 pounds of prescription pills have been collected," said Investigator Timothy Roberts, 66th Security Forces Squadron.

Roberts added that the initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.

According to the 2014 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's national survey on drug use and health, there were 6.5 million Americans 12 years and older who illegally used prescription drugs.

"Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse," he said. "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."

The Partnership for a Drug Free America estimates that each day approximately 2,500 teenagers use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies by the DEA indicate that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets.

Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat, said Chuck Rosenberg, DEA activing administrator. "Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse."

Last year more than 600,000 pounds of prescription drugs were collected at more than 4,000 sites operated nationally by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those totals are combined with the previous 'Take Back' collections, DEA has accepted more than 4.8 million pounds of prescription pills.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines--flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash--pose potential safety and health hazards.

"The DEA is in the process of approving new regulations that implement the Safe and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow a user of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General," Roberts said.

For questions concerning the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at Hanscom, contact Roberts at 781-225-5624.

For a list of additional collection sites available in other communities, visit the DEA website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.