Clean out your medicine cabinet: April 26 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Published April 22, 2014 By TRICARE WASHINGTON -- TRICARE beneficiaries have a safe and easy way to dispose of expired prescription drugs. The Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA's) National Prescription Drug Take-back Day is April 26. Sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for people to bring excess prescription drugs that otherwise could be abused or contaminate the environment. A 2011 national survey on drug use found that Americans are twice as likely to regularly abuse prescription drugs as they are to regularly use cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined. The same study found more than 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, often without their knowledge. During DEA's last take-back day in October 2013, Americans disposed of more than 647,211 pounds of prescription drugs. The last seven take-back days have collected more than 3.4 million pounds of unused medication. Prescription and over-the-counter "solid dosage" drugs--tablets and capsules--are accepted, but intravenous solutions, injectable medications and needles are not. The base exchanges on Lewis Main and McChord Field at Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be open for collection during the times listed above. To find additional collection sites click "Locate Collection Sites" at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback. (Editor's note: 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs contributed to this story.)