Guardsmen to participate in 'Operation Medicine Cabinet' Published Sept. 21, 2010 By Army Capt. Celine T. Combs National Guard Bureau WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- On Sept. 25, National Guard troops throughout the nation will participate in "Operation Medicine Cabinet," a one-day collaborative effort with agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, state and local law enforcement agencies and various substance abuse prevention organizations, to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from the nation's homes. According to DEA officials, more than 3,400 sites nationwide are joining in the effort that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. DEA agents, in conjunction with National Guard Counterdrug Program officials, have come together to support this day and to educate the nation's residents about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and the easy accessibility of these drugs. The program will allow U.S. residents to deliver all of their unused, unwanted or expired medications to law enforcement officials, who can then dispose of these controlled substances in a safe, non-hazardous manner. This initiative addresses the National Guard Counterdrug Program objectives in keeping America drug free. It is a vital public safety and public health issue, Guard officials say. Many Americans are unaware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. According to DEA studies, prescription drug abuse in the United States has increased at alarming rates, as has 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. Also, 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. Operation Medicine Cabinet accomplishes two main goals: it generates unprecedented attention to the issue of prescription and over-the-counter medicine abuse; and it encourages countless residents across the country to examine their medicine cabinets as a potential source for young people to access highly addictive and deadly drugs. Click here to find a collection site near you. Just add your zip code or city and state.