Drug Takeback Program Making A Difference
Area law enforcement held a prescription drug take-back day at Mahaska Drug on Saturday.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Just inside the front door of Mahaska Drug on Saturday were two members of local law enforcement.
No one was in trouble; they were there to help individuals dispose of outdated or no longer needed medications.
The bi-annual event also helps to keep the unwanted medications from seeping into the groundwater supply instead of being properly destroyed.
The consistency of the program seems to be making a difference, as the amount brought in each time seems to be less and less. At one point, the local effort yielded 300 pounds of medications to be destroyed.
The DEA on their website describes the event as, “The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”
“The DEA’s Take-Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.”
In addition to the drug takeback days, there is a permanent drop box inside the basement of the Mahaska County Law Center, and available all hours and days.
Another important factor for bringing in those unused or outdated medications is personal safety.
If a homeowner is known to have pain medications due to a surgery or other medical treatment, your home may become a target to individuals interested in obtaining those medications.
By disposing of the unused medication, it helps to lessen the threat of burglary.
Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem explained that the medications and other drugs they collect during the day would be sealed and shipped to the DEA.
Oskaloosa Police Lieutenant John Plum agreed that it is good to keep those unwanted medications out of the landfill and get them disposed of properly.
Besides human medications, the drug take-back program also accepts pet medications, which are just as potent as the human variety.
When it comes to the collection of illegal drugs, Van Renterghem doesn’t remember any of those items being deposited during the take-back effort.
