(Radio Iowa) – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is this Saturday from 10 a-m until 2 p-m. The D-E-A’s Emily Murray says the majority of people who have misused prescription medications in the past got them from family members or friends or they stole them from a family member or friend. Murray says. two-thirds of teens who have misused pain relievers in the past got those prescription medications from family and friends.
You can find a site to take back your prescription drugs at TakeBackDay.com.
As of April 19, 2023, here are Drug Take Back collection site sponsors and locations in the KJAN listening area:
- In Atlantic: the Drop-off box is permanently located in the entryway to the Atlantic Police Dept., during business hours
- Red Oak Police Dept.: Drop-off site at the Red Oak Hy-Vee.
- Council Bluffs Police Dept.: Drop-off site at the Walgreens Store.
- Dallas County Sheriff’s Office: Drop-off site at the Sheriff’s Office in Adel.
- Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office: Drop-off site at the Sheriff’s Office in Mount Ayr.
The take back event lets you turn in the medication anonymously. “Some people are fine just tossing their prescription pill bottles into the box or the receptacle. Other people feel a little bit more comfortable putting their prescription medications inside a brown bag and dropping that off,” She says. “This is definitely no questions asked. It’s a very safe and anonymous way to drop off your medications.”
She says they will also take back vaping devices and cartridges. “But the only thing that we asked with that is that you please remove the lithium battery and we may ask you just to show that the battery has been removed before we before you drop that into the receptacle,” Murray says. She says they will not take back sharp items like syringes, or illegal drugs.