Washington, D.C. - District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) Counterdrug Program collaborated with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for the 23rd National Prescription Take Back Day on October 29, 2022, at multiple sites in Washington, D.C.
The purpose of DEA’s 'Take Back Day' is to assist with ‘encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting,’ according to the DEA Take Back Day website.
In coordination with the DCNG Counterdrug Program, this public safety initiative includes Soldiers and Airmen working with local law enforcement officers and officials to set up drop-off areas for residents to dispose of their unneeded prescription drugs.
“Supporting this drug take back is a great experience,” said Sgt. Stephen Ferry, a criminal analyst on the DCNG Counterdrug program. “Not only do I get to interact with personnel from other agencies, but it provides an opportunity to get into the community I protect, as a DNCG member. People see the DCNG in times of crisis so it is great to show the community that we are here at other times as well.”
The first Take Back Day occurred in 2010 and has continued ever since. Throughout its inception, 15,268,473 pounds nationally and 23,170 pounds locally of prescription drugs have been collected.
Participating in Take Back Day falls under the DCNG Counterdrug Programs’ Drug Demand Reduction Outreach (DDRO) section. The mission of the DDRO is to coach communities in delivering collaborative and effective strategies that create healthy citizens and promote drug-free communities.
Take Back Day is one of the various ways the DCNG Counterdrug Program collaborates with the local authorities. The program conducts a full-spectrum campaign that bridges the gap between Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD institutions in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational threats to the Homeland. The program centers around three pillars: to assist with community-based organizations to better educate the community, to assist in criminal intelligence gathering and information sharing, and to disrupt the drug market by supporting arrest operations.
"This is a great opportunity for the DC National Guard,” said MSgt. Nelson Brothers, a Counterdrug Senior Analyst. “We’re able to work in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the DC Community Action Group (CAG) to do our part in helping to reduce the chances of the community gaining illegal and unauthorized access to prescription drugs and keeping the Nation's capital a little more safe."
In concert with its pillars, the DCNG Counterdrug Program conducts aerial reconnaissance, provides support to various District and federal law enforcement agencies and provides enhanced criminal analyst and linguist support to law enforcement agencies.
“It has been a great experience working alongside the DEA and the Metropolitan Police Department for the National Prescription Take Back Day,” said Master Sergeant Ozzie Paternostro, DCNG Counterdrug Operations NCO. “The District of Columbia National Counterdrug Program and DC National Guard as a whole looks forward to our future endeavors.”
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2022 10:57 |
| Story ID: | 432732 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON , DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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