Maxwell hosts National Drug Take-Back Day April 27 Published April 5, 2013 MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The 42nd Security Forces Squadron and the 42nd Medical Group Pharmacy will participate in National Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 27 at the Maxwell Base Exchange. Anyone with base access can bring all old, expired, unused and unwanted medications for disposal. The service is free and anonymous. Security forces personnel will be at collection sites, but no questions will be asked. Personnel will be available to answer questions or address concerns. This event is offered in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement to give members of the public an opportunity to prevent drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Four drop-off locations are offered throughout the community: the Community Oriented Policing Bureau at 2190 E. South Blvd. in Montgomery, the Eastdale Mall parking lot in Montgomery, the parking lot of the K-mart in Prattville and the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Wetumpka. In 2012, Maxwell dispensed 330,000 prescriptions, putting the installation at No. 4 of 58 Air Force clinic pharmacies for total prescriptions dispensed. Last year, all Air Force pharmacies dispensed more than 15 million prescriptions. As a result of changing health conditions, drug allergies or adverse drug reactions, many beneficiaries end up with partially used prescriptions filling their medicine cabinets. By getting rid of these items at this event, homes and the community become safer, and medications are properly disposed, minimizing any impact to the environment. This is the fourth time Maxwell has participated in this national take-back initiative. This will be the sixth National Drug Take-Back Day. On Sept. 29, 2012, people turned in 488,395 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,263 take-back sites in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the five previous events are combined, the DEA and its state, local and tribal law enforcement and community partners will have removed more than 2 million pounds of medication from circulation. This nationwide initiative addresses a public safety and public health issue. Medications 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 a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets. In addition, Americans are now advised 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. Courtesy of the 42nd Medical Group