Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (NADAP) office is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) by participating in National Take-Back Day, Sept. 26.

The event offers Navy personnel and their families a safe venue to turn in expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs to a local drop-off site anonymously and free of charge.

Take-Back Days serve as an opportunity for all Sailors to take a proactive role in the effort to prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. In the previous nine Take-Back events from 2010-2014, 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons of drugs were collected nationwide.\

"The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications," said LaNorfeia Parker, deputy director, Navy Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program.

Many Americans are not aware that medicines that sit in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away - both potential safety and health hazards.

"Participation in this year's National Take-Back Day should be an all hands effort," said Parker. "This initiative helps protect our Sailors and their families by preventing leftover medications from falling into the wrong hands."

Collection sites in local communities can be found by going to www.dea.gov and clicking on the "Got Drugs?" banner at the top of the home page, which connects users to a database where they can search by Zip code, city or county.

To prevent prescription misuse among Sailors, Navy's 21st Century Sailor Office and NADAP launched the "Prescription for Discharge" campaign to educate Sailors and their families on how to safely use prescription drugs and the health and career risks of misuse.

"Prescription for Discharge" provides medical staff and command program advisors with materials and messages to display in medical facilities and command work spaces for interactions with patients, family members and Sailors to assist with promoting Take-Back Days.

Navy personnel can find more information about the "Prescription for Discharge" campaign, including posters, banners, and leadership talking points on the NADAP website, available at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/21st_Century_Sailor/nadap/Pages/default2.aspx


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