Northwest Iowa — On Saturday, October 22nd, several locations in our are observed National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, by setting up stations where unused and outdated prescription drugs could be dropped off, in order to get them out of people’s houses, and prevent them from falling into the hands of someone who might abuse them.
The Governor’s Office of Drug Policy reports that some 85-hundred pounds of leftover medicines were turned in at more than 100 sites, statewide, during the October 22nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. O-D-C-P director Steve Lukan is happy to see so many people cleared the unneeded drugs out of their medicine cabinets.
Lukan says the goal of the take back days is to keep unused prescription drugs from those who might misuse them.
He says you should continue to keep a check on your prescriptions and get rid of the ones you no longer need.
Lukan recently joined Governor Terry Branstad to announce the goal of having a permanent drug take back site in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. He says many are already available.
Here in northwest Iowa, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office in Rock Rapids, as well as the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office in Sibley, have prescription drug drop off boxes that can be used 365 days each year.
Luken says there are a couple of types of drugs that are of particular concern.
He says Iowans always respond well to the Take Back Days.
The Take Back Days have been held twice a year for the last six years and Iowans have brought in nearly 39 tons of unneeded prescription drugs. For a map of permanent Iowa Take Back sites and other information to help prevent prescription drug abuse, go to: odcp.iowa.gov/rxtakebacks
