Goodfellow's Drug Demand Reduction program will expand drug testing beginning May 1 in compliance with Department of Defense policy to screen service members for commonly abused prescription drugs.
On Jan. 31, the Secretary of Defense gave a 90-day advance notice of the drug testing expansion which aims to counter the nation's growing epidemic and encourage those abusing prescription medications to seek treatment before official testing begins.
"Abuse of prescription drugs is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States, and unfortunately, this trend is reflected in the military services," said Maj. Gen. Thomas W. Travis, Deputy Air Force Surgeon General. "While pain medications are highly effective in alleviating suffering from injuries, they are dangerous and potentially addictive when used outside medical supervision."
Taking controlled medications in a manner other than how they were prescribed poses a risk to the person's health and safety and can put others at risk as well.
17th Medical Group Commander, Col. Jim Forrest, agrees.
"When you get down to it, expanded testing for prescription drugs is a force protection initiative," he said. "These drugs are readily available and unfortunately, may be easily abused with very little visibility. The result of such abuse can be catastrophic - not only to the individual's health but to the Air Force mission."
Prescription medications should be taken only for the purposes for which they were prescribed and at the dose and frequency prescribed. Additionally, Airmen are reminded never to take a medication prescribed to someone else.
"Members who need help discontinuing use of these drugs are encouraged to seek care at a military treatment facility immediately," said Maj. Gen. Travis.
The policy being addressed is not new to Air Force personnel. In accordance with Air Force guidance and existing law, the knowing use of any prescription or over-the-counter medications in a manner contrary to their intended medical purpose or in excess of the prescribed dosage may have negative health consequences and may also violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
"The increases that are taking place in the drug testing program are meant for us to be able to deter the abuse of prescription drugs," said David Estrada, Goodfellow's Drug Demand Reduction Program Manager and Drug Testing Program Administrative Manager. "That is why we want to emphasize that the increases will take place May 1 and that we encourage anyone who has a problem with prescription drugs to self-identify to the base clinic, mental health, first sergeant, or commander."
AFI 44-121, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) Program provides limited protections under certain circumstances for voluntary disclosure of prior drug use or possession to unit commanders, first sergeants, a substance abuse evaluator, or a military medical professional. Once an Airman has been ordered to provide a urine sample as part of the drug testing program, any disclosure is not considered to be voluntary.
"There are no changes to procedures that will directly affect drug testing collection sites and military members who are selected for testing," said Lt. Col. Mark Oordt, Chief, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Drug Demand Reduction. "The changes will occur at the Drug Testing Labs where the standard panel of substances each specimen is tested for will be expanded."
The scope of the problem
- The Centers for Disease Control report 52 million Americans age 12-plus had used prescription meds non-medically in 2009, with 7 million Americans having done so routinely.
- Prescription medications appear to be replacing marijuana as the top "gateway drug." Six of the top 10 abused substances among high school seniors are prescription drugs; 20 percent of high school students have taken prescription medications without a prescription.
- Military data also suggests increases in prescription drug misuse. The DoD Health Behaviors Survey shows self reported misuse of pain meds for non-medical purposes by Service Members (all Services) increased from 2 percent in 2002 to 7 percent in 2005 to 17 percent in 2008.
How to dispose of prescription drugs
"Patients are encouraged to dispose of prescribed medications once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purpose," said Lt. Col. Oordt. "The Drug Enforcement Administration prohibits pharmacies from taking back controlled substances. However, the Services collaborate with law enforcement agencies in the DEA drug take back days which occur several times each year in most communities."
"Goodfellow's Drug Demand Reduction Program office has been working with the base clinic pharmacist as well as the 17th Security Forces Squadron to support the DEA's national prescription drug take-back initiative," Estrada said.
A representative from the 17th SFS will be on hand in the Base Exchange parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 for members of the base community to bring their old, expired, unwanted medicines for proper disposal. Anyone with base privileges can bring their medicines: active duty, civilian, retiree, dependents. In accordance with the DEA program the drop off will be strictly anonymous.
"Our goal is to get these excess and unwanted medicines disposed of and away from potential abuse," said Estrada.
For more information on drug take back days visit
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/
The article has been localized for Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas