BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- In response to news about the presence of pharmaceuticals contaminating the water supply and teenage abuse of prescription drugs, Faast Pharmacy is now offering a new drug take back program to help its patients safely dispose of medicines that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.

“As members of the community, pharmacists are in a prime position to ensure the safe and proper handling of medications, from dispensing to disposal,” said Dr. Lisa Faast. “Unused or expired medications pose risks to our families, communities and the environment. We welcome all in the community to come and talk to our pharmacists about their prescriptions and how to store, use and dispose of them properly.”

Study's have shown that a vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, mood stabilizers and sex hormones have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.

Dr. Lisa Faast is a member of the National Community Pharmacists Association which in April launches a new Protect Your Pharmacy Now! Prescription Drug Disposal to help its members create consumer drug disposal programs for medicines that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.

Patients of any pharmacy are invited to safely dispose of unused and expired medications at Faast Pharmacy, free of charge by bringing in the drugs in their original stock containers. The pharmacy will work to return the prescriptions to their original manufacturer and dispose of those that cannot be returned in an environmentally friendly way.

The Office of National Drug Control has found that prescription drugs are the drug of choice among 12- and 13-year-olds, while a third of all new abusers of prescription drugs were between the ages of 12 and 17. Though it may be argued that the presence of drugs in drinking water is negligible, more and more consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to our waters. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets, sanitation employees, or anyone who rummages through trash.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises, and chains. Together they represent an $84 billion health-care marketplace, employ over 300,000 full-time employees, and dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines.

At this point the pharmacy does not take back controlled drugs such as pain killers like Oxycontin or Vicodin. Those can only be accepted under special collection arrangements due to federal drug enforcement agency regulations. Contact the DEA for more information.

Faast Pharmacy is located at 3400 Calloway Dr. #701. For more information call 661-410-7979