Turning in unneeded prescription drugs

CEDAR RAPIDS - Even with two decades of experience, Cedar Rapids Police Lieutenant Tom Jonker admitted he didn't know what to expect Saturday morning at the Hy-Vee Food Store on Mount Vernon Road in Cedar Rapids.

All set up at 10 A.M. sharp, he watched as people gave him drugs.

Bags full of drugs.

One shopping cart filled within minutes. By noon, Jonker was watching over four shopping carts, full of drugs never consumed. Drugs not headed for water supplies nor teenagers.

"They usually incinerate them," Jonker said when asked how police destroy the drugs people give them.

Police say the outdated and expired medications can lead to contamination of rivers, lakes or streams. Jonker said another concern is making sure the pills do not end up with children.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department points to a 2006 study by the Partnership of Drug-Free America, stating about "1 in 5 teens" have tried prescription drug painkillers.

Events like Saturday's could be part of a trend to build awareness about drug disposal. "Other events throughout the state and even the nation can bring between 300 and 400 pounds of unused medication in a two-hour period," said Lori Willett of Hy-Vee.

Yet the motivations to drop by on a snowy Saturday morning did vary.

"I've been hanging onto them for four years," said Emil Koval, who came by with a large plastic bag of outdated pills. "Trying to get rid of them."

"Now we have plenty of room for other things!" said George Abodeely.

Even for those people who may have had Saturday marked on their calendar to drop off drugs but could not make it, Jonker said the Cedar Rapids Police Department will accept these medications at the police station on 1st Street SW. He also assured several people that their information on the drug labels, such as named and addresses, would not end up in public.

- Chris Earl, KCRG-TV9