Disposing of prescription medications Published April 24, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The base will conduct a drop off and disposal of unwanted, expired and unused medications from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 28, at the base Commissary. The 28th Medical Operations Squadron is teaming up with the 28th Security Forces Squadron and the Drug Enforcement Administration to conduct this event, which is designed to give individuals an opportunity to correctly dispose of their medications. "Unused medicine is highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," said Shelley Satterlee, 28th MDOS Drug Demand Reduction Program manager. "The rate of prescription drug abuse is alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs." Intentional misuse of prescription medications is America's fastest-growing drug abuse problem, according to health professionals. One in five teens reportedly has abused prescription medication and accidental overdose of medicine is the number one cause of accidental death of Americans. Satterlee added that studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, and from home medicine cabinets. Of those who abuse drugs, more start with prescription medications than with marijuana or cocaine combined. Seventy percent of those who abuse pharmaceuticals get them from friends or relatives, not a drug dealer or the Internet. Satterlee said that everyone should know that improper disposal of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - can potentially pose safety, health, and environmental hazards. For more information, call Shelley Satterlee, 28th MDOS Drug Demand Reduction Program manager, at (605) 385-3231.