Iowans dispose of 441 more pounds of prescription drugs than in September 2015 campaign
(DES MOINES) – Today, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy announced that last Saturday’s National Prescription Drug “Take Back” Day to prevent medicine abuse and protect the environment was a record-setter in Iowa, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that sponsors the nationwide collection.
“We are pleased to announce that Iowans are making a difference, because they safely took back 9,084 pounds, or 4.5 tons, of unneeded prescription drugs to collection sites in 100 communities last week, the most collected since ‘Take Backs’ started in 2010,” said Dale Woolery, Associate Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
Last week’s result brings the total amount of medicines safely disposed of by Iowans over 11 “Take Back” events to 69,019 pounds, or more than 34 tons. To view data on the “Take Back” Initiative for the Midwest (St. Louis Division), please click here.
“Take Back” totals for the U.S. last week are not yet available. The next biannual National Prescription Drug “Take Back” Day will be in the fall, with the DEA expected to announce a date in the near future.
In the meantime, Iowans can go to https://odcp.iowa.gov/ to find one of the 82 permanent “Take Back” kiosks that have been established in local law enforcement centers and pharmacies in 55 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
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