On April 26, 2014 the Linn County Sheriff’s Office will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.
The Sheriff’s Office will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at three different locations throughout Linn County from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. This is a free, anonymous service that will help keep your home safe and could even save lives.
The three collection sites hosted by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office are:
*Alburnett City Hall, 103 N. Main Ave, Alburnett
*Linn County Sheriff’s Office (West Parking Lot) 310 2nd Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids
*Fairfax Fire Department, 523 Vanderbilt St., Fairfax
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, 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. Many users of street drugs like heroin start with abusing painkillers. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
Citizens that participated in the last initiative (October 2013) turned in 647,211 pounds (324 tons) of expired and unwanted medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,683 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. This is the second-largest collection of medications in seven Take-Back Days. When the results of the seven events to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed over 3.4 million pounds (1,733 tons) of medication from circulation.
For more information on additional collection sites near you, visit www.dea.gov
Strengthen your community and make your home safer by participating in this national initiative.