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HomeEventsFort Campbell to host Drug Take Back event Saturday, September 26th

Fort Campbell to host Drug Take Back event Saturday, September 26th

Blanchfield Army Hospital - BACH - Fort Campbell KYFort Campbell, KY – Fort Campbell is scheduled to host their semi-annual Drug Take Back event Saturday, September 26th. Members of the Fort Campbell community are encouraged to dispose of expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs from 10:00am to 2:00pm inside the Fort Campbell Main Post Exchange mall.

The semi-annual Drug Take Back Day is a collaborative effort by Fort Campbell Military Police, Army Substance Abuse Program, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Pharmacy, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Fort Campbell to collect expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs at their Drug Take Back event this Saturday.
Fort Campbell to collect expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs at their Drug Take Back event this Saturday.

During nationwide drug take back events last year, DEA officials collected 617,150 pounds 309 tons – of unwanted medication. Coordinated collection sites across the country accepted all solid dosage forms of medicine, including prescription painkillers and controlled substance medications.

“People are always so thankful for these events, because it is a convenient way to discard medications without it ending up in our drinking water,” Matthew Younger, manager of the prevention branch at Fort Campbell’s Army Substance Abuse Program said. “During the event, you can also get information about how to properly dispose of medication without waiting for the next drug take back event.”

The drug take back service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked, Younger said.

Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Pharmacy Chief Lt. Col. Jeffrey Neigh encourages a high turnout for Saturday’s event, but said there are some big changes on the horizon. He anticipates this semi-annual event to convert to permanent collection boxes at Fort Campbell, very similar to amnesty boxes at key locations in Montgomery County.

“In September of 2014, the DEA changed the rules to allow pharmacies to register as collection agencies,” Neigh said. “Prior to that, we were not authorized by law to take back any prescriptions once we dispense them, especially controlled substances.”

The Disposal Act amended the Controlled Substances Act to give the DEA authority to allow users to deliver unused pharmaceutical controlled substances to appropriate entities for disposal.

The new program will have a standardized approach throughout the Army, with coordination between U.S. Army Medical Command and Installation Management Command. The end result will be a drug take back collection box at LaPointe and one at Town Center Pharmacy. Until those boxes become available, Saturday’s event at the Main Post Exchange remains the last opportunity for turn in.

“Most importantly,” Neigh said, “if you are finished with a medication, help ensure no one else has access to it; to include your young children, teenagers and family pets.”

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