Prescription drugs 'take back' scheduled Published April 17, 2014 By 66th Security Forces Squadron HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The 66th Security Forces Squadron and Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, will provide Hanscom personnel an opportunity April 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by providing a turn in collection point on base. The collection is in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service lobby and will provide a safe and secure venue for anyone who would like to dispose unwanted, unused or expired prescription medication. DEA cannot accept liquids or needles. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the sponsor of this event, has collected more than two million pounds of pills from nearly 5,000 state and local law enforcement agencies during earlier collection events. "Hanscom has participated in the 'Take Back' eight times over the past three years and has collected more than 250 pounds of prescription pills at Hanscom," said Investigator Wayne Griggs, 66th Security Forces Squadron. Last October, Americans turned in more than 324 tons of prescription drugs at more than 4,000 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. When those totals are combined with the previous seven 'Take Back' collections, DEA has accepted more than 3.4 million pounds of prescription pills. According to Griggs, the initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. "Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, 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." Studies by the DEA indicate that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. 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--both 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 to accept them," Griggs said. For questions concerning the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at Hanscom, contact Griggs at 781-225-5618. For a list of collection sites available in other communities, visit the DEA website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.