FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Medsafe, a self-use medication disposal system installed in February of 2016 at Bassett Army Community Hospital, has led to the safe disposal of more than 400 pounds of unused and expired medications.
"Every year thousands of people in the United States die from drug overdoses," said Maj. Don Yamashita, the officer in charge of pharmacy operations for Medical Department Activity-Alaska.
Yamashita believes removing unneeded and expired medications from homes as soon as possible protects our community by cutting down on both overdoses and drug abuse.
"Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription," Yamashita said. "It has been found that the majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends, and home medicine cabinets; medicines that remain unnecessarily in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse."
The Medsafe system is the first choice and preferred method for safe disposal by the Drug Enforcement Agency since rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high. Offering the Medsafe allows community members to dispose of unwanted prescriptions more often than the twice a year Army sponsored Drug Take Back days.
"Twice a year is not enough," Yamashita said. "We need to keep unneeded medications out of the home as much as possible and Medsafe is working to do just that."
Medsafe is a one-way drop, double-locked steel collection container set to accept deposits during the pharmacy's normal operating hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday. and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
During these hours, patients can dispose the following accepted medications in the MedSafe without removal of patient information:
- Prescription medications
- Controlled substance medications
- Over-the-counter medications
- Vitamins
- Medicated lotions/creams/ointments
- Liquid medication in leak-proof containers
- Transdermal skin patches
Items not suitable for deposit in the MedSafe container include:
- Needles (Sharps)
- Thermometers
- Contraband drugs
- Infectious waste/medical waste
- Personal care products
- Business waste
- Aerosol spray cans
- Medical devices
- Hazardous chemicals
- Trash
Yamashita said he cannot predict if Medsafe will save lives but he does believe it will make a difference.
"I think in five or 10 years we will be able to look back at statistics and see a decline in the number of accidental ingestions and overdoses," Yamashita said.
"Keeping these medications out of homes where they are no longer needed by the patient will help prevent accidents and abuse."
Any questions on Medsafe or home disposable of medications may be directed to the pharmacy at 907-361-5109.
Social Sharing