This Saturday, October 22, is National Drug Take Back Day. Local authorities will be collecting prescription medications for disposal at various location across the Quad Cities on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
“More than ever with the opioid crisis, we need to get unused medicines out of medicine cabinets. Most teenagers who experiment with prescription drugs get them from the family medicine cabinet. Leftover opioids that are thrown in the trash might be retrieved and abused or sold. Flushing them isn’t good for the water supply. It’s best to dispose of these medicines in a safe way that removes the threat of abuse,” said Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley.
This event is typically held once in the spring and once in the fall. This service is free and anonymous.
During this year’s spring Drug Take Back Day, agencies collected 893,498 pounds of unwanted medicines—about 447 tons—at almost 5,400 sites spread through all 50 states. That number beat its previous record by more than 114,000 pounds.
Drugs will be accepted at the following locations:
Iowa
- Waste Commission of Scott County
5640 Carey Avenue in Davenport - Muscatine County Jail lobby
400 Walnut Street
Lobby hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday year round
Illinois
- Memorial Field Pavilion off of Rodman Avenue
1 Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island - Rock Island County Justice Center
1317 Third Avenue in Rock Island - Milan Municipal Building (front parking lot)
405 E. First Street in Milan - Geneseo Municipal Building
115 S. Oakwood Avenue in Geneseo
For more information, or to find a location near you, visit www.dea.gov or call 800-882-9539.
If you are aware of other places in the QC area that accept prescription drugs year round, please let us know by emailing news@wqad.com.