Operation Medicine Cabinet

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1444″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500400256479{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]By Maryland National Guard Public Affairs[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500400224275{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]The Maryland National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force participated in Operation Medicine Cabinet to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from Maryland homes on Sept. 25, 2010.

Operation Medicine Cabinet was a collaboration among the Counterdrug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, state and local law enforcement agencies and substance abuse prevention organizations.

“They [DEA] requested that we help support them on their national initiative, Operation Takeback,” said Capt. Harry Wille, operations officer for the MDNG Counterdrug Task Force.

The Counterdrug Task Force utilized Soldiers from the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 58th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 58th Troop Command and Joint Force Headquarters to help accomplish this mission.

The Counterdrug Task Force regularly supports the DEA, but this is the first statewide prescription drug disposal program in the nation.

September 25 was an amnesty turn-in day—an opportunity for Marylanders to turn in unused, unwanted or expired medications to law enforcement officials. The drugs were collected at Maryland State Police barracks throughout the state. The drugs were transported, with the help of Maryland Guard Soldiers, to the DEA field office in Baltimore for accountability the following Monday.

Maryland Guard Soldiers along, with an armed DEA agent, assisted in the transport of all the collected drugs to Lorton, Va. for destruction on Sept. 29.

The DEA and the National Guard Counterdrug Program have come together to support Operation Take Back and to educate Maryland residents about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the easy access to these drugs.

This initiative addresses the National Guard Counterdrug Program objectives in helping to keep America drug free. This is a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are unaware that medicines languishing in home cabinets are highly susceptible to theft, misuse and abuse.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

“I think it’s great that the Maryland National Guard is supporting local, state and federal law enforcement agencies with an initiative that takes a lot of these medications out of circulation,” said Wille.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]