Kirtland AFB to join DEA’s ‘National Take-Back’ Initiative

  • Published
  • By Special Agent Brandon J. Levonius
  • Joint Drug Enforcement Team, AFOSI Detachment 116
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. --  In 2011, New Mexico led the country in overdose deaths related to prescription medicines. Abuse of prescription medication by youth, adults and military members has been a significant and growing trend in recent years. By holding onto old, unwanted and unused medication, you may be putting your family and friends at risk.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, Kirtland Air Force Base will join the Drug Enforcement Administration in the "National Prescription Take-Back" Initiative. The event's purpose is to provide an easily accessible, convenient and secure way to dispose of old, unwanted or unused medication.

This is the time to clean out the medicine cabinet of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. For those who work under the Personal Reliability Program, it's a great opportunity to dispose of materials that are past their 30-day mark.

Kirtland AFB's collection site will be at the Base Exchange, 8001 Gibson Boulevard SE, directly in front of the main entrance. DEA and Kirtland AFB officials want to make this event as convenient as possible. Dropping off medication is as easy as stopping at the collection point and depositing your old medicines into the collection containers.

No questions will be asked, no information will be taken and no identification will be required. Controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter substances will be collected.

All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers will be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original containers. Depositors should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

Illicit substances, such as marijuana or methamphetamines, are not a part of this initiative and should not be brought to the collection point.

Other items not accepted include intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes, due to potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens.

For more information, contact your first sergeant, call 1-800-882-9539 or visit the DEA website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.

For more information about Kirtland AFB's participation, call Special Agent Brandon Levonius at 846- 0999 or Lt. Col. Matt Cowan, 377th Pharmacy Flight commander, at 846-3142.