MacDill agencies come together to take back unwanted meds

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Royce M. Terry
  • 6th Medical Group pharmacy flight commander
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Drug Enforcement Agency has scheduled another National Drug Take Back Day Oct. 29 to allow the public to dispose of unwanted or unused medications.

To help address this vital public safety and public health issue the 6th Medical Group, 6th Security Forces Squadron and the 6th Air Mobility Wing Drug Demand Reduction Office will give Department of Defense ID card holders an opportunity to rid their homes of these potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted medications. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. collection points will be set up at the MacDill Base Exchange and the Commissary. This is the third time this service has been provided to ID card holders at MacDill Air Force Base in an effort to safeguard the community and environment. Last month, ID card holders turned in 162 pounds of medications for disposal.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that accumulate in home medicine cabinets are at risk for diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to stockpiles of medications in the home. Studies show 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 TRICARE pharmacy benefit is one of the most comprehensive pharmacy programs found nationally, providing life saving medications to our nations warriors, past and present, and their families. Last year the Military Health Service dispensed more than 134 million prescriptions to their beneficiaries. Unfortunately, due to changing health conditions, drug allergies or adverse drug reactions, their beneficiaries end up with partially used prescriptions filling their medicine cabinets. By disposing these medications at this event, your homes and community become safer and it ensures medications are properly disposed of to minimize any impact to the environment.

Last year Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amended the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, to allow an "ultimate user" of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to events like this. Soon, the Drug Enforcement Agency will develop regulations that will make medication disposal as commonplace and accessible as filling a prescription.

Detective Eddie Garcia, 6th Security Forces Squadron chief of Intelligence and Investigations, will ensure there a police presence at the collection sites, however there will be no questions asked. Personnel will be available to answer any questions or address concerns.