News Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL EFFORTS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN DRUG DROP OFF EVENT

On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. a coalition of local agencies and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 14th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to one of the sites listed below. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In April 2017, Iowans turned in 11,774 pounds) of prescription drugs at 118 sites operated by the DEA and state and local law enforcement partners. Nationally over 900,000 pounds were collected at the April 2017 event. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8 million pounds of pills. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines stored in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

FREE Drug Disposal Drop-Off sites include:

Waterloo at Greenwood Drug, 2104 Kimball Avenue

Cedar Falls Police Department, 220 Clay Street, Cedar Falls

Bremer Co. Waverly Public Library, 1500 W. Bremer, Waverly

Buchanan Co. Sheriff’s Office, 210 5^th Ave. NE, Independence

Jesup Police Department 791 6^th St, Jesup

Parkersburg Unity Point Health Clinic at 502 3rd Street, Parkersburg

To find additional sites go to: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

Unopened, unexpired medications can be dropped off at the Greenwood Drug site. These can be donated to help low-income persons if volunteers at the event are notified of the medications for donation.

In Waterloo, this event is sponsored by: Black Hawk-Grundy Mental Health, Black Hawk County Health Department, Cedar Valley Hospice, CRUSH Professional and Community Coalition, Greenwood Drug, Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Northeast Iowa Family Practice Center, Pathways Behavioral Services, Trinity Lutheran Church, Unity Point- Allen, Waste Trac, Waterloo Police Department, and Covenant/Mercy Healthcare.

Pathways
3362 University Avenue
Waterloo, Iowa 50701

Contact: Jackie Preston
Community Prevention Educator
319-235-6571 ext 423
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