Pathways

3362 Univesity Ave

Waterloo, IA 50701

News Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL EFFORTS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN DRUG DROP OFF EVENT

 On Saturday, April 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 15th opportunity in 8 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 October 2017, Americans nationwide did their part to reduce the opioid crisis by bringing the DEA and its more than 4,200 local and tribal law enforcement partners a record-setting 912,305 pounds—456 tons—of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for disposal at more than 5,300 collection sites. 

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. Janesville Public Library, 227 Main St, Janesville

Bremer Co. Sheriff’s Office, 111 4^th Street NE, Waverly

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

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

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