To reduce the risk of prescription medication abuse, residents are urged to store their medicines in a secure place in their home. For expired or unwanted medicine, residents should properly dispose of them. Polk County has four locations for disposal of prescription medication.
Prescription Medications Theft & Abuse
The abuse of prescription medication is an epidemic in the U.S. Most people who are addicted say they found their supply of pills in the medicine cabinets of friends and family.
Will you help end the epidemic? Keep prescriptions in a secure place and monitor supplies. Painkillers such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Tylenol with codeine are among the most commonly abused medications.
Abusers may target you and your home as a source of prescription medications.
- Do dispose of meds properly
- Don't keep expired and unwanted medications.
- Don't pour down a sink or drain or flush unused or expired medications.
What's Accepted & What's Not Accepted
Accepted
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Pet medicines
- Prescription medicines, including controlled substances
- Vitamins and supplements
Not Accepted
- Needles
- Sharps
- Syringes (Accepted at EGF location only)
No medicines from businesses, including:
- Doctor's offices
- Healthcare facilities
- Pharmaceutical representatives
- Pharmacies
- Veterinary clinics
Guidelines
- Bring medicines in their original packaging or container
- No ID required
- Free of cost