While there are statewide efforts to collect and safely dispose of prescription medications in recent months, a city in southwest Iowa is launching its own drug take-back program.
Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says a drop-off box is now in the lobby of the county jail in Council Bluffs. It was installed in late February and has already been used to collect more than 50 pounds of meds.
“We’ve emptied it twice and both times it’s been pretty close to being full,” Sheriff Danker says. “It’s good that people are using it. We’re glad they’re taking advantage of the fact it’s there and getting these medications out of their homes that they don’t need.” Danker says the drop-off box is a valuable tool as it provides the public a proper place to toss unneeded prescription drugs, reducing the possibility the medications fall into the wrong hands.
“This gives them the opportunity,” Danker says. “If they’re cleaning out their medicine chest and they want to be able to dispose of it right away, they can come down here and drop it off, Monday through Friday from 8 to 4:30 and be done with it.” The next statewide drug take-back event is a little over a month away. It’s scheduled for Saturday, April 30th.