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300 pharmacies across the state of Iowa are participating in the Iowa TakeAway program through the end of November (the state has grant money of $160,000 to spend on the program but may request additional funding to continue the program). The TakeAway program offers a safe easy way to properly dispose of unwanted and expired medications which commonly end up compromising the integrity of water supplies when flushed down the toilet or placed in a landfill. Also, unused and expired drugs pile up in home medicine cabinets which increase the likelihood for teenagers, elderly, pets or others to misuse or abuse them.

Individuals are asked to take unwanted and expired medicines to a participating pharmacy which will then place the returned medications into a sealed waste bin designed to store such products and ship to a company in Houston, Texas, to be safely incinerated. Pharmacies may limit amount taken in.

Acceptable items are: unused or expired medications (prescription of over-the-counter) including pills, tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, lotions, powders, inhalers, nebulizer solutions, liquid medicines less than 4 oz. (liquids must be wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a sealed plastic bag) and ALL products should be left in the packaging dispensed in, minimizing exposure in transit. Items not accepted are: controlled substances such as Adderall, Vicoldin, Demerol, Hydrocodone, MS Contin, Ambien; any sharps such as syringes, lancets; liquid medicines greater than 4 oz., thermometers, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen pyroxide.

Side Bar?

Participating TakeAway pharmacies are:

La Porte Pharmacy  601 Hwy. 218 N.  (If questions, call 342-3620)

Hy-Vee Pharmacy  1422 Flammand Dr. Waterloo

NuCara Pharmacy  209 E. San Marnan Dr. Ste. 100 Waterloo

Covenant Family Pharmacy  2710 St. Francis Dr. Ste. 101 Waterloo

Allen Clinic Pharmacy  146 W. Dale St. Waterloo

Clingman Pharmacy 106 E. 4th St. Vinton

NuCara Pharmacy  500 2nd St. Traer