Sailors and family members can take a proactive role in preventing prescription drug misuse by disposing of unwanted, unused or expired medications properly during the Drug Enforcement Agency's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, April 29.

The event encourages Sailors and families to turn in expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs to a local drop-off site anonymously and free of charge.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, increases in prescription drug misuse over the last 15 years are reflected in increased emergency room visits, overdose events and drug treatment admissions. Unintentional overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers have more than quadrupled since 1999 and have now outnumbered those involving heroin and cocaine.

"Unwanted and unused medications that are 'diverted' are part of the problem, but proper disposal can minimize the risks," said LaNorfeia Parker, Deputy Director of the Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP). "Disposing your expired or unused medications is easy with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and it's an important way to help keep our Navy family safe."

"Dispose Properly" is one of four steps that the Navy's Prescription for Discharge campaign promotes to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription medication, in accordance with the Navy's zero tolerance policy.

Recognizing the need for safe disposal, the Military Health System established a Drug Take-Back program to help beneficiaries properly dispose of their prescriptions and over-the-counter medications at all military treatment facility (MTF) pharmacies in United States and U.S. Territories. Sailors can find information about whether their MTFs are participating by contacting the hospitals directly. While participation at MTFs is encouraged, Sailors and their family members can also drop off unused or expired medications at participating sites in their local communities. Collection sites in local communities can be found by visiting the Drug Enforcement Agency's Office of Diversion Control and searching for local collector locations.

The Navy's Prescription for Discharge campaign website provides tips for all Navy personnel on the safe and proper use of prescription drugs, offering materials for distribution and display at Navy medical clinics, pharmacies, waiting rooms, barracks, etc. The website also offers resources for Navy leadership, medical personnel and drug abuse prevention personnel to present at safety stand downs, briefings, or community health fairs.

Sailors can also watch and share videos from the Prescription for Discharge campaign on the Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention YouTube page.

For more information on the Navy's Prescription for Discharge campaign, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/nadap/campaign_events/prescription/Pages/default.aspx.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit http://www.navy.mil/.