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HomeNewsFort Campbell offers Drug Take Back in April

Fort Campbell offers Drug Take Back in April

Blanchfield Army Hospital - BACH - Fort Campbell KYFort Campbell, KY – The Fort Campbell Military Police, Army Substance Abuse Program, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Pharmacy and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide another public opportunity to dispose of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs Saturday April 26th from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

“Disposing of unused prescriptions during this semi-annual event can prevent prescription medication abuse and theft by eliminating drugs from homes,” said Army Substance Abuse Coordinator Jon Nelson.

Everyone is encouraged to drop off unused medications for disposal at the Main Post Exchange, inside the Mini-Mall area. The PX is located at 2840 Bastogne Avenue, Fort Campbell, KY.

“The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked,” said Nelson.

Last October, Americans turned in more than 276 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,600 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners. In its five previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners took in nearly 775 tons of pills. Locally, Fort Campbell took in 147 pounds of unused or unwanted medications in October 2013 and the hope is to significantly increase that amount this April.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to 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 these drugs.

Studies show that 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.

Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act in 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.

The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long-term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. The DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act. Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like the Fort Campbell Military Police, in conjunction with the Army Substance Abuse Program, BACH Pharmacy and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events semi-annually.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides the following guidelines on how to properly dispose of unused medications:

  • Utilizing Drug Take Back Programs in your community
  • If you must throw drugs in the trash: Take them out of their original containers (DO NOT crush tablets or capsules) and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. The medication will be less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash.
  • Put them in a sealable bag, empty can, or other container to prevent the medication from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
  • When in doubt, ask your pharmacist.

For additional information please visit the DEA website at www.dea.gov or call 1.800.882.9539.

If you or someone you know needs help, the Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) offers services for alcohol and drug abuse problems for Soldiers and may have referral information for Families and civilians.

Families should contact Army One Source at 877.811.ARMY or www.MyArmyOneSource.com or www.tricare.mil for substance abuse help.
Department of Army civilians can contact the Employee Assistance Program at 270.798.5253. Soldiers should contact the ASAP Counseling Center at 270.412.6883.

ASAP Program Manager: 270.412.0214

Prevention Coordinators: 270.412.0080/82

Risk Reduction Coordinators: 270.412.0084/85

Installation Drug Testing: 270.798.7270

Clinical/Counseling

ASAP Counseling Center

Building 2526, 22nd and Kentucky

270.412.6883

Employee Assistance Program

270.798.5253

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