Team Andersen supports DEA’s National Drug Take Back Initiative Published April 25, 2011 By Airman First Class Whitney Tucker 36th Wing Public Affairs ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - -- Members of Team Andersen will have the opportunity to dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs in a safe and appropriate environment during the second annual National Drug Take Back Initiative April 30. Andersen will provide two medication drop-off sites for individuals who already have base access. One collection site will be at the entrance of the Base Exchange, and the second collection site will be at the base Commissary. The initiative is designed to raise awareness and increase education about prescription drug abuse, an issue that often goes unrecognized. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time every day. "The NDTBI is an important program to keep people and pets safe from misusing, abusing or accidently ingesting expired, unwanted or excess medications around the house," said Capt. Christa Sechrist, 36th Medical Support Squadron Pharmacy officer in charge. "Just about every household has prescription medication, over the counter medication, vitamins or supplements that are not currently part of a daily regimen and are just taking up space." According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is not uncommon for drugs that are flushed down the toilet or washed down the sink to cause harmful contamination. After mingling with rivers and lakes, these pollutants can affect aquatic life and the quality of local water supplies. "All too often when the build-up of unwanted and excess medications occur, people have a tendency to flush prescription drugs down the toilet or rinse them down the drain," Captain Sechrist said. "There are no filters that can universally remove all pharmaceutical molecules from water. As a result, pharmaceuticals are being found in lakes, streams, oceans and wastewater." Last year, the initiative was a huge success in removing potentially dangerous prescription drugs and controlled substances from our nation's medicine cabinets. There were approximately 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation that participated in the event, collecting more than 121 tons of pills in all. "I encourage everybody to gather up all their unwanted, excess prescription medication, OTC medication, vitamins or supplements and drop them off at one of the two collection sites," Captain Sechrist said. "This medication spring cleaning event will not only keep people and pets safe, but prevent thousands of medications from being flushed down the toilet or drain." Prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications such as tablets and capsules will be accepted. However, intra-venous solutions, injectables and needles will not be accepted; illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.