Knoxville — The Marion County Sheriff's Office recently took part in a nationwide prescription drug collection event. In one day, the sheriff's office collected approximately 20 pounds of expired or unusable prescription drugs.
This event was part of a Drug Enforcement Administration collection. In Iowa, 4,399 pounds were collected. The previous event, in April, brough in 5,365 pounds. Nationwide, there were 17,200 pounds of drugs collected and 21,000 in April.
Marion County Sheriff Ron Goemaat said that residents do no thave to wait until special collection days as this to bring in unused prescription drugs. The drugs can be dropped off at the office at 211 Godfrey Lane, Knoxville, during regular business hours.
In most cases, families of the deceased discover the unused pills of their loved ones and feel they have to flush or hold onto the drugs until the next collection date. Quite often, these pills are painkillers. The abuse of painkillers and other prescription drugs is on the rise and becoming a major problem in Iowa. As for flushing, drugs can dissolve and contaminate the environment.
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
