Ankeny Police Taking Unwanted Prescription Drugs On October 24

Press release from the City of Ankeny:

October 15, 2020

ANKENY, Iowa (Oct. 15, 2020) – The Ankeny Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration want to help make homes safe by destroying all expired or unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Ankeny police officers will be at the Ankeny Police Department, 411 SW Ordnance Rd., Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take possession of any expired or unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.

The purpose of the drop off is to help residents remove potentially dangerous substances from their medicine cabinets by establishing a safe collection site. The service is free and anonymous, no questions will be asked. Any solid dosage form of pharmaceutical products such as tablets, capsules and patches will be accepted. Liquids, needles, sharps, inhalers, syringes, IV solutions and other biohazard materials will not be accepted.

Last fall Americans turned in nearly 441.5 tons (more than 882,919 lbs.) of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 12.7 million pounds of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish 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.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back Day event on Oct. 24, contact Sgt. Corey Schneden with the Ankeny Police Department, 515-289-5257, cschneden@ankenyiowa.gov or visit the www.DEATakeBack.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Ankeny. The views expressed here are the author’s own.