Security Battalion hosted their annual on base “National Drug Take Back Initiative” at Lincoln Military Housing, the Marine Corps Exchange and Barber Physical Activity Center on Oct. 23, 2013, to collect expired prescription medicine and inform base residents about proper disposal.

Marine Corps Base Quantico held the event before Virginia holds its initiative Oct. 26, 2013.

Military Police officers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents were placed at three locations, aboard Quantico to providing residents with safe and convenient drop-off point.

“We also want to inform people that flushing your expired drugs down the toilet affects the water you drink,” said Master Sgt. Terrell Lambert, military police operations chief, Security Battalion. “We encouraged anyone who had expired drugs to participate in the event.

According to DEA Agent Michael A. Beyer, the pheromones and hormones found in prescription drugs cannot be filtered out of the water source and the pheromones and hormones will have a negative effect on the human body.

“There is an increasing problem with the abuse and misuse of prescription medicine,” said Beyer. “This [event] gives us the opportunity to help the public get rid of expired drugs in a safe manner.”

As stated by the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal act of 2010, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a growing problem in the United States, particularly among teenagers. Studies also show teens abuse prescriptions drugs more than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined.

“Prescription drug abuse has become a rising problem.” said Brandi Salvant, officer, Provost Marshal Office, who added it is a good idea to get those drugs off the streets.

The take back may have only lasted three hours, but by the end of the event, officers and DEA agents collected 70 pounds of drugs, 25 pounds more than they collected earlier this year.

 “We had a better turn out this year than last year, so we know it is working,” said Salvant

For information about what to do with expired drugs, visit www.deadiversion.gov.

Correspondent: cuong.le@usmc.mil