Drug take-back program provides convenience for community

    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) designates two days each year, in the fall and spring, for its drug take-back program.
    Last Saturday, the Imperial Police Department sponsored the fall collection of unused and expired medications.
    “We collected just shy of 17 lbs. of medication,” said Sgt. Chad Ostmeyer, coordinator for the police department sponsored program.
    The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications, according to the drug take-back website.
    This program allows for the safe and legal disposal of leftover or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, including creams, powder inhalers, nebulizer solutions, liquid medicines less than four ounces, lotions, ointments, pet medications, pills, tablets, and capsules.
    For the first time, DEA also accepted vaping devices and cartridges at its drop off locations last week, the site said.
    “We’re helping to get drugs off the street successfully which could potentially be abused in the wrong hands,” Ostmeyer said.
    Once collected, all drugs are sent to the DEA regional office in Omaha, he added.
    Unused and expired medications can also be dropped off during the year at Adams Drug.
    “We can only take medications that are not controlled substances (any drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by the government),” said Jaime Hanes, pharmacist. “Those would need to be turned into the police department.”
    The next drug take-back day will be in the spring 2020.