JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Got Drugs? The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and Joint Base Charleston's law enforcement agencies along with the Drug Demand Reduction Program will partner to provide the community an opportunity to help prevent pill abuse by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on September 26, 2015.
Bring your prescription drugs to Joint Base Charleston BX or the Naval Weapons Station NEX for disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pills and patches will be accepted; liquids, needles or sharps; will not. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
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. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets. Further, misuse of prescription drugs by military members and civilian employees can lead to administrative or legal problems.
Additionally, Americans are advised that the usual methods for disposing of unused medicines--flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash--pose potential safety and health hazards.
Last year, the DEA collected more than 324 tons of prescription drugs from more than 4,114 sites operated by the DEA and their state and local law enforcement agency partners. JB Charleston law enforcement agencies and DDRP have partnered with the DEA since 2011 conducting Prescription Take Backs. This partnership contributes to the tons of prescription drugs collected each year.
For more information, contact Ms. Williams or Mrs. Lampkin-Harris at 963-6514.