JB MDL prepares for Prescription Drug Take Back Day Published Oct. 28, 2011 87th Pharmacy Flight JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- National Take Back Initiative is being observed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at several military installations across America, to include Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. This one-day initiative, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, provides a venue for people to safely dispose of unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs at the Base Exchange, commissary and dormitories. Many people are not aware medicines left at home are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse, according to the DEA. Approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Another advantage of this program is that it discourages people from flushing drugs down their toilets. Drugs improperly disposed of wind up in rivers and lakes where they harm aquatic life and contaminate water supplies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to the DEA. Prescription and over-the-counter solid-dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules, are accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables and needles will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines are not a part of this initiative. The first National Take Back initiative was held Sept. 25, 2010. Approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in this effort. The American public turned in more than 121 tons of pills that day, according to the DEA. A similar program in 2009, "Operation Medicine Cabinet", was launched in order to combat the growing problem. More than 400 police departments and other law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey helped collect 9,000 pounds of old, un-wanted pills, pain killers, anti-depressants and other medications in an effort to keep teens from looting parents' medicine cabinets. If sold on the street, the 4.5 tons of drugs would have had a value of roughly $35 million. "Air Force pharmacies dispensed more than 15 million prescriptions to our beneficiaries last year," said Lt. Col. Glenn Laird, 87th Medical Group Pharmacy Flight commander. "Unfortunately, as a result of changing health conditions, drug allergies or adverse drug reactions, our beneficiaries end up with partially-used prescriptions filling their medicine cabinets. By getting rid of these items at this event, our homes and community will become safer and it ensures medications are properly disposed of to minimize any impact to the environment." Illicit prescription use is a serious situation itself. Studies show those who abuse prescription medications are at greater risk of falling prey to illegal and more harmful drugs like heroin. The 87th Medical Group team encourages everyone to take part in this worthwhile endeavor to safeguard the joint base community against unintentional over use or abuse of these potentially-fatal medications.