R 161946Z APR 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 202/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/EIGHTH NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY//
POC/TABITHA BROYLES/CIV/UNIT:MFC/-/TEL:703-784-9526//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/
1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING THE EIGHTH SEMI-ANNUAL NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY, TAKING PLACE ON 26 APR 14.  SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN OCTOBER 2010, THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY CONTINUALLY AIMS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, CONVENIENT, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DISPOSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.  THIS DAY ALSO EDUCATES INDIVIDUALS ON THE POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE OF MEDICATIONS.  PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT REMAIN IN HOMES, SUCH AS SEDATIVES, PAINKILLERS, AND STIMULANTS, ARE HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DIVERSION, MISUSE, AND ABUSE.
2. PRIOR TO THE DEAS TAKE-BACK DAYS, INDIVIDUALS OFTEN FLUSHED OR THREW AWAY THEIR OLD MEDICATIONS.  ACCORDING TO THE 2011 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) HEALTH RELATED BEHAVIORS SURVEY OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, 1.3 PERCENT OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL REPORTED PRESCRIPTION DRUG MISUSE IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.  MISUSE INCLUDES USING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION NOT PRESCRIBED FOR THE USER, USING THE MEDICATION TO GET HIGH, OR IN LARGER DOSES THAN PRESCRIBED.  FURTHERMORE, 5.0 PERCENT OF ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL REPORTED THAT IT WAS VERY EASY FOR CHILDREN TO ACCESS PRESCRIPTIONS IN THE HOME.  BENEFITS OF PROPER DISPOSAL OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS INCLUDE DETERRENCE OF MISUSE BY TEENS AND ADULTS, AND PREVENTING MEDICATION FROM ENTERING THE WATER SUPPLY THROUGH IMPROPER DISPOSAL.
3. FOR PAST TAKE-BACK DAYS, THE DEA HAS PARTNERED WITH STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING THE PROVOST MARSHAL OFFICE (PMO) ABOARD MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, TO HOST COLLECTION SITES.  PAST PARTICIPANTS IN THIS IMPORTANT EVENT INCLUDE DOD AND EVERY BRANCH OF SERVICE, AS PART OF DODS EFFORT TO MAINTAIN DRUG-FREE MILITARY COMMUNITIES.  IN KEEPING WITH THE GOAL OF THE MARINE CORPS SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM OF PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING CENTER (SACC) DIRECTORS AND DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION COORDINATORS(DDRCS) ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THIS YEARS PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY.  SACC DIRECTORS AND DDRCS MAY CONTACT THEIR LOCAL PMO REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT ONBOARD THEIR INSTALLATIONS. DURING THE EVENT, INSTALLATION DDRCS ARE ENCOURAGED TO FIELD QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE DANGERS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.  POSTERS ADVERTISING THE TAKE-BACK DAY CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEA WEBSITE.  EACH SACC IS ENCOURAGED TO COORDINATE WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ESTABLISH COLLECTION POINTS TO PROVIDE A SAFE VENUE FOR MARINES, FAMILY MEMBERS, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, AND RETIREES TO TURN IN UNUSED, UNNEEDED AND EXPIRED PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION ANONYMOUSLY FOR DISPOSAL. A COMPLETE LIST OF NATIONAL COLLECTION SITES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE DEA WEBSITE, HTTP:(SLASH)(SLASH)WWW.DEADIVERSION. USDOJ.GOV AS OF1 APRIL 14.
4. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. A. C. SANBORN, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//