Winnebago County taking back prescription drugs

On Saturday, April 28, the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 15th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Winnebago County residents bring your pills for disposal to locations open during business hours; Mercy Clinic (Buffalo Center and Forest City). Lake Mills Police Department available by phone call and Winnebago County Sheriff Department available 24/7. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last fall Americans turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9 million pounds—more than 4,500 tons—of pills. 
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Through a Drug Free Community Grant, Winnebago County Task Force is able to offer FREE lock boxes to Winnebago County citizens that can be used in a home. We know the number one prevention is to safely lock our medications away from others. Our county is fortunate to have boxes available. Consider picking up your box today. Contact your local law enforcement, Winnebago County Public Health or the Task Force.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs please contact Winnebago County Task Force, 641-562-2525.