With U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley
Q: What is National Take Back Day?
A: It’s very likely that a majority of households in Iowa have unneeded, unused or expired prescription medicine sitting in medicine cabinets, nightstands, kitchen cupboards or even in the glove compartments of their vehicles. What many people may not realize is that unneeded prescription drugs aren’t just taking up space and adding clutter, but they also pose risk of theft and harm to people who misuse them. One overdose death is one too many. Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. In 2015, 23 Iowans died from a prescription drug overdose, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. And reports show that people who misuse prescription medicine are obtaining the drugs from people they know, including family members, friends and neighbors. This weekend, Iowans have an opportunity to clear your cabinets. You can protect loved ones and secure peace of mind that you’ve done your part to prevent misuse of addictive drugs and help save lives at the same time.
I encourage Iowans to take advantage of the 12th biannual National Take Back Day sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with local law enforcement and local pharmacies. It’s safe, convenient and legal. The bottom line is simple. It’s neighborly and the right thing to do. Make the effort this weekend and carve time out to practice good civic responsibility that promotes public safety and environmental stewardship. Flushing medicine down the toilet or pitching it in the garbage can lead to hazardous waste that pollutes natural resources and encourages addicts to check trash for pain killers. Previous collections have taken a staggering 6.4 million pounds of medication off the shelves during Take Back Days. In Iowa alone, 34 tons were collected.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I steered landmark legislation through the Senate this year to address the alarming misuse of prescription pain killers and the opioid/heroin epidemic seizing communities across this country. Signed into law this summer, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act authorizes more funding for anti-addiction measures, enacts sweeping tools for prevention, treatment, and recovery, and expands access to overdose reversal drugs for first responders. I also helped make sure that a fixed portion of the funds for these overdose reversal drugs is set aside for rural areas, like much of Iowa, where access to emergency health care can be limited. Finally, the new law also authorizes and encourages further prescription drug take back efforts. It reflects an all-hands-on-deck approach from law enforcement to community leadership. Raising awareness in local communities is a key piece of the puzzle to solve this challenge. Lives are being destroyed and families are being torn apart from all walks of life. Addiction can start after a sports or work injury that leads to abuse of pain medication and moves on to heroin or a synthetic drug such as fentanyl. Every household in Iowa can make a difference. Comb through medicine cabinets and collect unneeded prescription medicines.
Too many families in our state have been touched by illegal drug trafficking and use, such as methamphetamine, that poison too many futures of the next generation in our hometown communities. Let’s get ahead of the pain killer crisis and face it together before it takes an irreversible toll on even more lives in our state.
Q: How can Iowans locate an approved disposal site?
A: This Saturday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 100 sites in communities across Iowa will collect unneeded medicine, no questions asked. You can search online for a location nearest you by plugging in your zip code online. Go to www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov. Or dial toll-free (800) 882-9539. In addition, check with your local pharmacy or law enforcement to find out if they offer additional take back services. Note that some disposal sites may not take “sharps,” such as needles or lancets, or liquids.
The state of Iowa is taking additional steps to provide year-round receptacles to collect unused medicine. Up to 100 Take Back permanent kiosks in community pharmacies and local law enforcement departments are being organized to provide at least one permanent collection site in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. To find a permanent take-back site in Iowa, go to https://odcp.iowa.gov/takebackrx.
