Orange City, Iowa — Unused, unwanted drugs can become a target for addicts and thieves. That’s the main reason that the national “Prescription Drug Take-Back Day” was created. And now you have even more options when it comes to a location for dropping off these drugs.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office now has a prescription drop off box. The drop box, called MedReturn, is located in their public lobby which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Sheriff’s Office tells us they partnered with Cheryl Buntsma to obtain the drop box. Buntsma is a Certified Prevention Specialist at Compass Pointe Behavioral Health Services of Sioux and Lyon Counties, which specializes in Healthcare, Health Services and Mental Wellness Therapy.
Buntsma tells us how it works.
She tells us one of the reasons why it’s important that these drugs that are not being used are removed from the home.
She says another reason 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.
She says they’re trying to get people to realize that when they have prescriptions in the home, they are just like valuables.
She says that’s the theme of the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this year, which this year is on Saturday, April 28th.
Buntsma says that while you can drop off your unwanted prescriptions 24/7 at the Sheriff’s Office and during regular business hours at northwest Iowa Lewis Family Drug locations, on April 28th from 10 until 2, they’re going to weigh the drugs received and report the total for the national observance.
She says most other pharmacies also accept unwanted prescriptions, but only the locked boxes at Lewis Family Drug and the Sheriff’s Offices in the area can accept Schedule 2 drugs, which are the stronger drugs with a high potential for abuse.
