ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Members of the APG community turned in 295 pounds of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications to Army Substance Abuse Program and Directorate of Emergency Services personnel during APG's Prescription/Over-the-Counter Take-Back Campaign between Sept. 24 and Sept. 28.
On Sept. 29, ASAP and DES Community Policing delivered the collected prescription and over-the-counter drugs to the Havre de Grace Police Station for proper disposal. The weight from this campaign almost doubled the weight from APG's last Take-Back campaign in April.
"We increased the number of drop-off locations; that made it easier to participate. A police officer or pharmacist must be present during all medication collections and we had their support," said ASAP Prevention Coordinator Cindy Scott. "Also, organizations worked together to advertise, to make the event a success."
Throughout the week, drop-off locations were available at APG North (Aberdeen) and APG South (Edgewood) police stations and at the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic pharmacy. In addition, special one-time drop-off sites were offered at the C4ISR Center of Excellence Campus, at the post theater during the APG Garrison suicide prevention training, at the 22d Chemical Battalion during its annual safety day event, and at Shine Sports Field during the opening night of the Oktoberfest.
The Prescription/Over-the-Counter Take-Back Campaign provides the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs. During the campaign, community members are able to turn in medications at no cost with no questions asked.
"We have found that the majority of teenagers get drugs illegally from home, or grandma's house, or the neighbor's house, where people have them sitting around, not thinking about it," Scott said. "At work, it is also dangerous to leave medications on desks, out in the open. How we control our medication, as well as where we store them can make a difference in public safety."
Scott added that expired drugs may be less effective and cause some people to overdose by taking more than they should to get the same effect.
Scott said that ASAP and DES plan to offer this service to the APG community every spring and fall, to coincide with National Prescription Take Back Day, which occur in April and September every year.
The next APG Prescription/Over-the-Counter Take-Back Campaign will take place April 27, 2013. For more information call 410-278- 4013 or e-mail Cynthia.Scott4@us.army.mil, or contact Crime Prevention and Community Policing Officer Mike Farlow at 410-278-3609 or e-mail Michael.Farlow@us.army.mil.
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