Northwest Iowa — Check that medicine cabinet. Do you have old and outdated prescription medications? Experts say that’s not safe, and they’re giving you an opportuntiy to do something about it.
Law enforcement agencies our area have partnered with Compass Pointe Behavioral Health to take part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, this Saturday, April 28th. The service is free and anonymous, and gives people a time to clean out all the unused prescription medications, including any Schedule II controlled medications, that may be in their medicine cabinets.
Officials with Compass Pointe tell us that one of the reasons for the take-back day is that certain drugs can fall into the hands of those who would misuse them or into the hands of people who would try to sell them to others who would misuse them. They even say you should hide or lock up your medications, so house guests don’t have access to them in your bathroom or bedroom.
Experts say turning in the unused drugs not only keeps them from getting into the wrong hands, it also keeps them from being flushed down the toilet or into landfills where they can impact water supplies.
Another benefit is that the strength and efficacy of expired medications cannot be relied upon, and it could be dangerous to your health if you take them.
You can find Prescription Drug Takeback sites by clicking here. Some sites include the sheriff’s offices in Osceola, Lyon, and Sioux counties, and the Sutherland Police Department, among others.
