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Prescription Take Back programs promote safety, saves landfills

If you have leftover prescription pills laying around the house, spring is the time to get rid of them.

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois — If you have leftover prescription pills laying around the house, spring is the time to get rid of them.

From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, departments around the Quad Cities will  allow residents to dispose of prescription pills or patches.  The service is free and anonymous. Drugs will be accepted at the following locations:

  • Rock Island Justice Center, 1217 Third Avenue in Rock Island
  • Milan Municipal Center, 405 First Street in Milan
  • Silvis Police Department, 1040 First Avenue in Silvis

The opportunity allows the public to get rid of medications that could be misused or stolen, and to dispose of them in a way that is not harmful to the environment - such as flushing them down a toilet or throwing them in the trash.

Last September, the DEA collected more than 350 tons of prescription drugs nationwide. Total, the last 10 Take Back events by the DEA have collected more than 5.5 million pounds of prescription drugs.

Muscatine County drop box

Beginning Friday, April 15, residents of Muscatine County will be able to drop off prescriptions into a box located in the lobby of the Muscatine County Jail, 400 Walnut Street. Lobby hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In the Facebook post by the department, Sheriff Ryan says that abuse of prescription pills can lead to harder addictions.

"There is currently a lot of heroin addiction and heroin deaths in Iowa. I don't want Muscatine County to become a place where that happens," said Ryan.

We will add to this story if we hear of other prescription Take Back programs in the Quad City area. Send a tip to news@wqad.com.

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