Tyndall pharmacy scheduled to host National Prescription Drug Take Back Event

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alex Echols
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 325th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy and the 325th Security Forces are teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the second time to bring the National Prescription Drug Take Back Event back to Tyndall.

They will be collecting expired or unused prescription drugs between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 to 26 at the Main Pharmacy lobby in the Medical Clinic and April 27 in the Base Exchange common area.

"A lot of people have medications that they do not use, which need to be disposed of properly," said Capt. James Williams, 325th Medical Support Squadron pharmacy operations officer in charge. "This is one way we can do that."

Patients often just throw their prescriptions in the trash or flush them down the toilet, but these actions pose an environmental threat as they open the possibility for abuse of the drug by someone without a prescription or contamination of the local water supply, Captain Williams said.

"Unfortunately, the pharmacy can't take back prescriptions after they have been dispensed," said Captain Williams. "This is one of the few opportunities that patients have to dispose of them properly."

If patients cannot hold onto their medications until an event like this, there are a few ways they can properly dispose of the medicine.

"Patients can properly dispose of them by putting them in coffee grounds or kitty litter, and disposing of them in the trash in a plastic bag," Captain Williams said.

Initially, some heavy planning went into the making of this event. 

"Master Sgt. John Novak, 325th MDSS pharmacy NCO in charge, played a huge role in the making of this event last year and then again this year," said Captain Williams. "He handled all the advertisement that was associated with it."

Also, the pharmacy had to register as a drop-off site with the DEA and get the 325th SFS involved.

"We had to coordinate with security forces to make sure that they are on hand at all times," Captain Williams said. "We are not in control of the medications at any time. The DEA requires that security forces have it basically on lock down. Capt. Steven Benson and Senior Master Sgt. John Pickford have been a great help in coordinating with us."

Even with the 325th SFS there at all times, patients need not worry about any ramifications associated with handing their prescriptions in.

"It is fully confidential," said Captain Williams. "We are not there to bust anyone on anything. We are just there to make sure we get these medications disposed of properly."

According to the DEA, during last year's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event they collected 552,161 pounds of prescription drugs. Tyndall alone produced 156 pounds of this total.

"This year, I would like to set a goal of about 200 pounds, and get this event set up maybe again in the fall coordinating with the county sheriff's office to spread off base," Captain Williams said.