Photo By Sgt. Noel Williams | The District of Columbia National Guard Counterdrug Program supports the Drug...... read more read more
WASHINGTON — The District of Columbia National Guard Counterdrug Program played a role in supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 29th National Prescription Take Back Day on Oct. 25, 2025, partnering with local organizations to promote safe disposal of unused or expired medications across the city.
The DCNG Counterdrug team deployed both civil operators and analysts at multiple collection sites, assisting residents as they turned in prescription drugs safely and anonymously. Their efforts aligned with the program’s ongoing mission to reduce substance misuse and strengthen community partnerships through prevention and outreach.
“The impact of the DCNG Counterdrug Program on the community and its partners is often underrated,” said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Robinson, senior criminal analyst with the DCNG Counterdrug Program. “Our presence at the 6th District Precinct was greatly appreciated and warmly welcomed. I hope we can continue to promote and support events like this that make a positive difference in our community and our city.”
The Counterdrug Program includes both analysts and civil operators. Analysts support law enforcement agencies to strengthen intelligence and operations, while civil operators use their military skills to assist community partners through prevention and outreach efforts.
Staff Sgt. Belita Lynum, a civil operator with the Drug Demand Reduction Outreach (DDRO) team, echoed that sentiment. “The event was great,” Lynum said. “It was nice working alongside other organizations in the community that are also committed to drug prevention. It was even better to see people come out, engage with us, and take steps toward keeping their homes and neighborhoods safe.”
Lynum added that many participants appreciated the convenience of Take Back Day. “Some people even said they felt relieved to finally clear unused medications out of their homes,” she said.
The DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day provides an opportunity for people nationwide to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unwanted medications. Since 2010, the initiative has collected more than 20 million pounds of prescription drugs, preventing potential misuse and environmental harm.
“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects our shared commitment to protecting the American people from drug-related harm,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “This effort brings together law enforcement, public health, and communities in a unified mission, keeping homes safe, preventing misuse before it starts, and saving lives.”
In Washington, D.C., the results of collective prevention and treatment efforts are becoming evident. According to the D.C. Health Opioid Overdose Dashboard, fatal opioid overdoses have dropped 45.5% over the past year, from 448 deaths to 244. In July 2025, only 15 fatal overdoses were reported, marking an 11.8% decrease from the previous month. City agencies and community partners attribute this steady decline to coordinated outreach and harm-reduction strategies.
Across the nation, nearly 4,000 collection sites participated in Take Back Day, uniting federal, state, and community partners in the mission to reduce prescription drug misuse.
For information on permanent drop box locations and year-round disposal options, visit DEA.gov/takebackday.
| Date Taken: | 10.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2025 14:42 |
| Story ID: | 550714 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON D.C., DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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