DGMC to host prescription take back

  • Published
  • By Capt. Amy Wong and Staff Sgt. Roxana Granados-Peek
  • 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 60th Security Forces Squadron with assistance from 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron pharmacy staff at David Grant USAF Medical Center are teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Agency to host the National Take Back Initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Base Exchange pharmacy in the Exchange mini mall.

The goal of the NTBI is to allow the citizens in every state to deliver all of their unused, unwanted or expired medications to law enforcement officials who can in turn dispose of these controlled substances in a safe and nonhazardous manner to the communities and the environment.

"Prescription drug abuse is becoming an epidemic," said Col. Joseph Weaver, 60th MDTS commander. "While no one wants to throw away 'good medication' if you no longer have the condition it was prescribed to treat, then it is not 'good medication.' Using a pain medication that was prescribed for you, but for another injury is misusing the medication and no one wants that if they have to visit Drug Demand Reduction."

Authorized DEA take-back sites have coordinated with local law enforcement agencies so that prescripted controlled substances may be accepted for disposal. The DEA reminds consumers that the take-back service is completely free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

Sites will accept tablets, capsules and all other solid-dosage forms of unwanted medication. Personal information may be blacked out on prescription bottles or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events.

During the first three NTBI days, consumers disposed of 995,185 pounds of unwanted medication. The third NTBI event on Oct. 29, 2011, saw participation from 5,327 partners that provided take-back sites across all 50 states and the United States territories.

The Travis community is welcome to bring back any unused, controlled and uncontrolled medications for disposal. For more information concerning the NTBI, call the DGMC pharmacy at 423-2711. The DEA also is providing an online drug collection site locator for the general public that will be available in March 2013. For more information, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html