CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, participated in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 27.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue by allowing people with unused medications to anonymously return them for disposal. 

"We were the first base to participate in this event and now it has spread to multiple bases, last I heard it was over 30,” said Capt. Grant Wallace, the hospital’s director of clinical support services and lead “Take-Back” coordinator.  “The original reason why we started this program at MCB Camp Pendleton back in Sept. of 2010 was because many of our wounded warriors were in possession of multiple expired medications of which they had no way of disposing of them safely.  This has been a good program not only for our wounded warriors, but for all of our beneficiaries.  We have also noticed a growing awareness about the program since we started it.”   

Eight boxes of medications weighing 89.5 pounds were collected at the pharmacy entrance at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton; near the Pass and Identification office at San Onofre Seaside Square and in the Pacific Plaza parking lot by the Maui Wowi Café and veterinary clinic near the front gate.  This is an increase from 75.4 pounds collected during the last event in Sept. 2012.