Iowa Launches Statewide Pharmacy Take-back Pilot

This month, Iowa is launching a pharmacy-based, statewide drug disposal program. The TakeAway™ Environmental Return System allows consumers to dispose of unused or expired medications through the convenience of drop off boxes in their community pharmacies. “We care about patient safety and protecting our environment,” said Kate Gainer, Vice President of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. “This easy-to-use consumer take back program will reduce contamination in our waterways and help to prevent prescription drug abuse.”

Legislation passed in Iowa during 2009 called for the creation of a pharmacy-based drug collection and disposal pilot program. The pilot is being run with a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, which has worked closely with the Iowa Pharmacy Association. The Iowa Pharmacy Association has reached out to partner with numerous statewide organizations to help promote TakeAway. IPA’s outreach partners include health professional boards (medicine, nursing, etc); several solid waste agencies; Department of Natural Resources; substance abuse coalitions; and many others. Through the planning process, IPA has learned there are numerous individuals and organizations interested in finding a solution to the problem of medication disposal.

Over 300 pharmacies in 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties will collect unused prescription and over-the- counter medications. “As members of the community, pharmacists are in a prime position to ensure the safe and proper handling of medications, from dispensing to disposal,” said Gainer. “By working together, pharmacists across the state of Iowa hope to make a difference for the environment and their communities through TakeAway.”

Participating pharmacies will accept most pills, tablets, and capsules, as well as ointments, creams, powders, lotions, inhalers, nebulizer solutions, and liquid medicines up to 4 ounces. Medications will be collected in twenty-gallon systems that have tamper-evident features as well as one-way entry for the medications, similar to a sharps container. Once filled, containers are shipped via UPS to an assured destruction facility operated by Sharps, Inc. in Texas.

The pharmacies cannot accept controlled substances, sharps, thermometers, liquids over four ounces, or durable medical equipment or home-based care supplies. Residents are encouraged to contact their local solid waste agency for options to dispose of sharps, thermometers, and larger quantities of liquids. The TakeAway website lists local opportunities to dispose of controlled substances through special collection events conducted with local law enforcement.

Visit www.iarx.org/takeaway/ to review a complete list of acceptable items for the program, see answers to frequently asked questions and locate participating pharmacies.