Health and Fitness : What are those 'Prescription drug drop boxes I have heard about?

In college I was shocked to find out that some of my peers were using prescription drugs to study harder, longer hours. That was in 2007.

Currently at the Area Substance Abuse Council, our treatment assessment statistics show an increase in prescription drug abuse. In the past year, we have seen a large increase in clients that state prescription drugs are their primary addiction.

Currently there is still a significant perception that prescription drugs are “safe”. While they are safe when prescribed by a doctor in certain dosages for a specific patient, they are not safe for a different body with a different biology.

Prescription drugs are becoming increasingly available for all ages. Most of us have some prescription drugs in our medicine cabinet right now. Perhaps you are currently taking them, or after completion haven’t gotten around to throwing them away. No matter how they get into the medicine cabinet, we often have trouble clearing them out.

At the Area Substance Abuse Council, we have been partnering with law enforcement agencies and coalitions in order to set up a means of disposing the unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs. There are now 16 drug drop boxes in Linn, Benton, Jones, Clinton, and Jackson counties. We encourage you to make use of these drop boxes in order to get the medicine out of your cabinets and out of the hands of the wrong person.

In today’s busy world, it is getting easier and easier to properly dispose of unwanted and expired prescription drugs. Figuring out where your closet Drop Box is and utilizing it regularly, is the way to go! You’ll appreciate the empty space in your medicine drawer.

Lindsey Ungs,

Certified Prevention Specialist

Drop Box Locations in Linn, Benton, Jones, Clinton, and Jackson Counties

Cedar Rapids Police Department

505 1st St. SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

319-286-5439

Hours: 24/7

Locations:

Benton County Sheriff Department

113 E 3rd St, Vinton, IA 52349

(319) 472-2337

Hours: 24/7

Belle Plaine City Hall/PD

1207 8th Ave, Belle Plaine, IA 52208

(319) 444-2200

Hours: 24/7

Marion City Police Department

3911 Katz Dr, Marion, IA 52302

(319) 377-1511

Hours: 24/7

Linn County Sheriff’s Department

310 2nd Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

(319) 892-6100

Hours: 24/7

Lisbon City Hall/PD
115 N. Washington, Lisbon, Iowa 52253
Hours: 8am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday
Telephone: 319-455-2459

Mt. Vernon City Hall/PD

213 1st St NW, Mt Vernon, IA 52314
(319) 895-8742

Hours: 8am-5pm Monday thru Friday

Hiawatha Police Department

101 Emmons Street, Hiawatha, IA 52233

(319) 393-1212

Hours: 24/7

Monticello Police Department

201 E South St., Monticello, IA 52310

(319) 465-3526

Hours: 24/7

Jones County Sheriff’s Office

500 W Main St., Anamosa, IA 52205

(319) 462-5305

Hours: 8-4:30pm M-F

Maquoketa Police Department Lobby

102 South Niagara Street, Maquoketa, IA 52060

(563) 652-2468

Hours: 24/7

Bellevue Police Department Lobby

106 North 3rd Street, Bellevue, IA 52031

(563) 872-4545

Hours: 8- 4:30pm M-F

DeWitt Police Department

606 9th St., DeWitt, IA 52742

(563)-659-3145

Hours: 24/7

Clinton Police Department

113 6th Ave S., Clinton, IA 52732

(563)243-1457

Hours: 24/7

Clinton County Sheriff’s Office

241 7th Ave N., Clinton, IA 52732

(563)-242-9211

Hours: 24/7

Camanche Police Department

917 3rd St., Camanche, IA 52730

(563)-259-8575

Hours: 24/7