Iowa set a record during last Saturday’s drug take back day. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports 123 Iowa community collection sites gathered 8,840 pounds of unused prescription medicines during the event.
The over four tons of drugs brought back in the latest event brings the total amount turned in by Iowans since the start of the program in the fall of 2010 to 21.5 tons.
The events are held twice a year, and an Iowa official says it was thought the number of drugs turned in would drop each time, but that hasn’t happened. He says that’s due in part to better awareness as more people dig the unused drugs out of their medicine cabinets and turn them in.