Drug Take Back Program

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cory Gossett
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke Air Force Base, in coordination with the United States Federal Drug Enforcement Agency and local law enforcement agents, is scheduled to hold a "Drug Take Back" day to remove and dispose of potentially dangerous and unused prescription drugs in people's medicines cabinets.

"People can drop off their prescription drugs at the Base Exchange from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on September 26, 2015," said Senior Airman Joshua Guthrie, 56th Security Forces Squadron investigator. "There are no restrictions on what pills are taken. There will be a booth setup to dispose of the medications."

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative addresses essential public safety and public health issues.

The partnership for a Drug Free America estimates that there are more than 2,500 teenagers using prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies by the DEA show that a majority of abused prescriptions are obtained from family and friends and from their medicine cabinets.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, many Americans aren't even aware that medicines in their home cabinets are highly susceptible to abuses and misuse.

In cases, the patients might not need to use the entire prescription their doctor prescribes or the doctor might change the prescription to a different medication and may no longer need the old pills. The "Drug Take Back" program offers people a way to safely dispose of these prescription medicines.

People may dispose of medication in its original container or by sealing it in a bag. All solid pharmaceuticals and liquids in consumer containers will be accepted. All liquid products should remain sealed in their container. The depositor should make sure the liquid is sealed tightly to prevent any leaking.

According to the DEA, many people don't know how to dispose of unused medications properly. Most people flush them down the toilet or just throw them away, both potential safety and health hazards.

"It's Important to safely dispose of leftover and unused drugs," said Staff Sgt. Robert Degoey, 56th Security Forces NCO in charge of investigations. "It helps ensure these drugs never hit the street."

There are some restrictions to what's accepted under the program.

Intravenous solutions, injections and syringes (ex: diabetic supplies, EpiPen, Lovenox) will not be accepted.

In the previous nine Take-Back initiatives nationwide, 4,823,251 pounds of drugs were collected. In Arizona alone, more than 79,800 pounds were collected.
For more information regarding the National Prescription Drug Take Back program contact Staff Sgt. Robert Degoey at 623-856-6450.