Page 11 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior 4-1-16

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Fort Irwin prescription drug take-back day is April 27
By Ronney Hester
Fort Irwin Army Substance Abuse Program
The National Prescription Take-Back Day was initi-
ated on September 24, 2010 by the United States Drug
Enforcement Administration.
The campaign encourages American citizens to
turn in unused or expired prescribed medication for
proper disposal. It gives the public an opportunity to
prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of
potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted
prescription drugs.
In order to maintain combat readiness, it is
imperative that Department of Defense military
personnel, civilians, and their families remain drug
free. Fort Irwin’s Army Substance Abuse Program is
partnering with DEA, and Directorate of Emergency
Services to hold National Prescription Drug Take-
Back Day on Wednesday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the Fort Irwin Main exchange entrance
and the Dr. Mary E. Walker Center.
We will accept controlled, non-controlled, over the currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the
counter substances, all solid dosage, pharmaceutical
products and liquids in consumer containers. We also
accept liquid products such as cough syrup, which
No purchase necessary. Only active duty / retired military families eligible.
No Federal, Army, Navy, Marines Corps or Air Force Endorsement of the Advertiser Is Intended.
11High Desert Warrior
April 1, 2016
Your Installation
should remain sealed in its original container. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription
We will not accept intravenous solutions and sy- drugs to get high for the first time according to the
Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that
ringes due to potential hazards posed by blood-borne a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained
pathogens. Illicit substances such as marijuana or from family and friends, including the home medicine
methamphetamines are not part of this initiative and cabinet.
should not be placed in collection containers. If an
individual attempts to surrender an illicit controlled Cleaning out your medicine cabinet aims to prevent
substance, law enforcement personnel should handle poisonings, prevent abuse, prevent misuse, and pro-
such material as abandoned property. tect the environment. Poisonings, abuse, and misuse
often occur when people store old medications in their
All participants must retain possession of their homes. The presence of these items makes them acces-
own medication during the surrender process. Law sible to young children who may be poisoned by them.
enforcement will not handle the medications at any Older children and teens may abuse these products or
time. This program is free and anonymous. All efforts experiment with them for non-medical reasons. Adults
will be made to protect the anonymity of individuals and the elderly may save medications, such as antibiot-
disposing of medications. There will be no questions, ics, for use at a later date. This is called misuse, and
and no requests for identification will be made. can lead to antibiotic resistance as well as a delay in
treatment of a condition that may be harmful. Often,
If there are any questions or concerns, contact ASAP when people choose to get rid of their medications,
in building 452 on the corner of 3rd and G Streets. they may flush them down the toilet which can lead to
The phone number is 380-4153. contamination of our water supply. Never flush your
medications down the toilet.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and
public health issue. More than seven million Americans
2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Adminis-
tration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
4 Disneyland
Tickets
(Family of 4).
WITH SUPPORT OF April is Military Child
“Appreciation Month”
Military Children move around
all the time. What a great
opportunity to enjoy the community
and spend time with Mickey!
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil