Johnston Event Collects 65 Pounds of 'Good' Drugs Gone Bad

Johnston residents disposed more than 65 pounds of unwanted prescription medications at the Johnston Police Department's Drug Take Back event.

On April 28, the hosted its fourth event at to help residents dispose of unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications.

Several police departments and communities across the state participated in the event.

In total, 103 events in Iowa collected 5,603 pounds of unwanted medications. Over the past four events Iowa locations collected 16,053 pounds of unwanted medications.

In April 2011, more than 376,000 pounds of prescription drugs were collected nationwide in a prescription take-back day, according to a Johnston Police Department news release.

The take-back initiative began as a public safety and health issue, according to the release.

"Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet," the release said.

"In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards," the release said.