Drug Take Back event scheduled at Fairchild Published April 26, 2012 By Scott King 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Fairchild is having a Drug Take Back event April 28 at the Exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Drug Enforcement Administration is heading up this nation-wide initiative. This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications. Americans who participated in the DEA's third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months. "The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs," said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. "DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place." Fairchild's 92nd Security Forces Squadron is partnering with the 92nd Medical Group pharmacy to oversee this initiative. "Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient means for participants to properly dispose of their unwanted and unneeded prescription and over-the-counter drugs," said Timothy McShane, 92nd Security Forces Squadron chief of investigations. "We do this in a manner in which the participant can dispose of their unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs with no attempt to identify the individual. We encourage participants to remove any identifying information from the prescription label or to use a permanent marker to black it out." The 92nd MDG pharmacy realizes the importance of this initiative. "I feel that this is an important program that provides a safe and easy method for patients to dispose of unused and unwanted medications from their households," said Maj. Jolene Norris, 92nd Medical Support Squadron Pharmacy flight commander. "Over dosage and abuse with prescription medications have become an increasing problem, especially for households with teenagers. The Drug Take Back Program helps to eliminate this problem." The impact on Fairchild Airmen and their families is two-fold. "This provides Airmen with the means to readily dispose of unused medication so that they are less likely to self treat with prescription medication at a later date. In the case of narcotics, this could result in positive urinalyses and disciplinary action for the active duty member," Norris said. "In addition to that, for families, removal of unwanted medications prevents accidental poisonings. This initiative also provides an environmentally safe method of drug disposal for patients." The DEA appreciates the nation-wide effort. "With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue," Leonhart said.