Published: November 20, 2009 09:47 pm      

Learn how to safely dispose of unwanted medications

CLINTON — The Clinton Substance Abuse Council is participating in a statewide effort to reduce the abuse of prescription medications and to ensure their proper disposal.

According to a press release, Clinton County is part of the state’s TakeAway program. Legislation newly passed this year paved the way for the drug collection and disposal program, funded by a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The Iowa Board of Pharmacy and the Iowa Pharmacy Association teamed to offer the program at 300 locations in Iowa.

The program’s aim is to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription medication, and to prevent pollution caused when people flush old medications down the toilet. Clinton County’s location to turn in unwanted medications is Hy-Vee, 901 S. Fourth St.

Clinton Police Capt. Randy Meier said prescription drug abuse has been increasing locally for the last three to five years, and is a big concern for law enforcement in the city. Seven students were arrested at Clinton High School late last month on drug-related charges. Five of the arrests were tied to the possession and distribution of prescription drugs.

According to Kristin Huisenga, a prevention specialist with the Clinton Substance Abuse Council, 64 percent of teens who abuse prescription medications get them from a family member or friend. The TakeAway program launched Nov. 9 in Clinton County and statewide.

“I think it’s an important part of encouraging parents, everyone to dispose of their medications when they’re not needed,” said Huisenga.

While the TakeAway program doesn’t accept controlled substances, residents can dispose of prescription and over-the-counter pills, ointments, creams, lotions, powders, inhalers and liquid medications.

Pharmacists will put unwanted medications that are turned in into a waste bin specially designed to safely store the discarded products along with their packaging. Liquids being disposed of must be under four ounces, and the bottle should be wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a sealed plastic bag before being placed in the waste bin.

Medical sharps and thermometers are not accepted.

Filled waste bins are sealed and shipped to medication disposal facilities, where they are incinerated.

The pharmacy at Hy-Vee is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information about TakeAway, contact the Clinton Substance Abuse Council at 241-4371 or go to iarx.org/takeaway. For statistics on prescription drug abuse, go to takeadoseoftruth.com.