Several law enforcement agencies in Iowa are participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday (April 28, 2018).

Hours of the event are 10 AM to 2 PM at various locations. The list of northeast Iowa drop-off sites is posted below.

Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Drug Take-Back Day lets patients and their families dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Illicit substances such as marijuana are not part of this initiative. Injectable, IV solutions, inhalers and other compressed air cylinders will not be accepted.

The Take-Back event addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. According to DEA, 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.

Last fall, the public turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in 14 previous Take-Back events over the past eight years, DEA and its partners have taken in over 9 million pounds -- more than 4,500 tons -- of pills.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 29 Take-Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion or the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy websites.

List of Participating Agencies and Drop-off Sites in Northeast Iowa:

Calmar: Calmar Police Department - 101 Washington Street
Cedar Falls: Cedar Falls Police Department - 220 Clay Street
Charles City: Charles City Police Department - 105 Milwaukee Mall
Cresco: Howard County Sheriff's Department - 124 South Park Place
Decorah: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Thrifty White Pharmacy - 702 Montgomery Street
Decorah: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Walmart Super Center - 1798 Old Stage Road
Elkader: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Elkader Opera House - 207 North Main Street
Hampton: Franklin County Sheriff's Department - 105 5th Street SW
Independence: Buchanan County Sheriff's Department | Court House - 210 5th Ave. NE
Janesville: Bremer County Sheriff's Department | American Legion Hall - 500 Main Street
Lansing: Lansing Fire Department - 51 North Front Street
Lansing: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Lansing City Hall - 201 John Street
Manchester: Manchester Police Department | Blakesley Drug - 220 East Main Street,
Monona: Monona Police Department - 104 East Center Street
New Hampton: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Chickasaw County Community Center - 260 East Prospect Street
Parkersburg: Parkersburg Police Department - UnityPoint Health Medical Clinic, 502 3rd Street
Postville: Northeast Iowa Drug Task Force | Postville City Hall - 147 North Lawler Street
St. Olaf: Clayton County Sheriff's Department - 22680 230th Street
Strawberry Point: Strawberry Point Police Department - 111 Commercial Street
Tama: Meskwaki Nation Police Department | Meskwaki Tribal Senter Center - 301 Meskwaki Road
Vinton: Benton County Sheriff's Department - 113 East 3rd Street
Waterloo: Waterloo Police Department - Greenwood Drug, 2104 Kimball Ave.
Waterloo: Waterloo Police Department - Walgreens, 3910 University Ave.
Waukon: Waukon Police Department - 104 1st Street
Waverly: Bremer County Sheriff's Department - 111 4th Street NE
Waverly: Waverly Police Department | Waverly Public Library - 1500 West Bremer Ave.

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