SFS hosts Drug Take-Back event April 29
By Mark Wyatt, 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
/ Published April 17, 2017
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The 66th Security Forces Squadron will host a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. here.
Individuals with base access may dispose unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication by providing to SFS personnel at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) lobby or at one of the installation's two gates. Officials are not able to accept liquids or needles.
“The event is held with the hope of decreasing the amount of unused or expired prescription pills in the home,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel Fox, 66th Security Forces Squadron member, who is coordinating the event. “Security forces personnel will also pick up meds from base housing for those unable to make it to one of the collection sites.”
According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids website, more Americans die each year from drug overdoses than in car crashes.
“The service is free and anonymous -- no questions asked,” Fox said.
According to the DEA website, the Drug Take-Back initiative addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Officials note that disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash may pose potential safety and health hazards.
Base personnel also have the option to turn in unused or expired controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter medication at a MedSafe drop box located in the lobby of the Hanscom clinic.
Anyone interested in disposing of medication at the MedSafe drop box may do so Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. when the clinic is open. The base clinic is closed the first Friday of every month.
“The MedSafe container also provides members of the Hanscom community a safe and easy way to dispose of unused or expired medications,” said Fox.
For questions concerning the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at Hanscom, or to schedule SFS personnel to pick up, contact Fox at 781-225-5616.
For a list of additional collection sites in other communities, visit the Department of Justice website at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.