Drug Take Back Day: Where To Drop Off Pills In Polk County

DES MOINES, IA — Leaving unused or expired prescription pills in a medicine cabinet can lead to a host of problems, federal drug officials warn. That's why they created National Prescription Drug Take Back Day programs to allow people to turn in unwanted medications, no questions asked.

The 15th event sponsored by the DEA is Saturday and in Polk County residents can drop off pills at one of 10 locations. The program is confidential and no personal information will be collected when people turn over medications.

“Disposing of leftover painkillers or other addictive medicines in the house is one of the best ways to prevent a member of your family from becoming a victim of the opioid epidemic,” DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson said in a statement. “More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance. The abuse of these prescription drugs has fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic, which has led to the largest rate of overdose deaths this country has ever seen.”

In many cases, police departments host the collection events in an effort to keep the drugs from falling into the wrong hands and leading to accidental overdoses or becoming a gateway to drug addiction.

In Ankeny, the program is partnered with "Coffee With A Cop," an opportunity to visit with members of the police department to learn more about their role in the community. People can drop off their drugs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Unity Point Medical Park, 3625 N. Ankeny Blvd.

In Des Moines, though the police department is not accepting collections, residents can take their medications to Polk County Sheriff's Office personnel at CVS Pharmacy at 215 Euclid Ave. or to officers with the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement at the Iowa Department of Public Safety in the Oran Pape building, 215 E. Seventh St. Both Des Moines collections will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Over the past seven years, the DEA has run 14 drug take-back days. At the most recent collection in April, the agency said the public handed over about 450 tons, or 900,000 pounds, of prescription drugs. Since the inception of the event, agencies have taken in a staggering 8.1 million pounds of pills.

“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Properly disposing of these pills is one important step anyone can take to get involved in turning the tide on the opioid epidemic.”

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EARLIER: Urbandale to Take Part In Prescription Collection Program

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The drug take back initiative is part of a nationwide movement spearheaded by the DEA. The U.S. Attorney's Office says more than 5,000 sites across the U.S. will be taking part in Saturday's collection.

No needles or liquids will be accepted during the event.

Here are the Polk County law enforcement agencies participating in the drug dropoff programs on Saturday. All locations will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

Altoona Police Department, collecting at the Altoona Fire Department, 950 Venbury Drive.

Ankeny Police Department at Unity Point Medical Center, 3625 N. Ankeny Blvd. (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement personnel, Iowa Department of Public Safety in the Oran Pape building, 215 E Seventh St.

Johnston Police Department at the Public Safety Building, 6373 Merle Hay Road.

Polk City Police Department lobby, 309 W. Van Dorn St.

Polk County Sheriff's Office (two locations) at CVS Pharmacy, 215 Euclid Ave. in Des Moines and 104 E. First St. in Ankeny

Urbandale Police Department, 3740 86th St. (8 a.m. to noon)

West Des Moines Police Department, 250 Mills Civic Parkway.

Windsor Heights Police Department, 1133 66th St.

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