The United States’ growing opiate-addiction epidemic has made it more important than ever to dispose of unwanted prescription medications properly.

The Britt Police Department, 8 2nd St. SE, is providing a new “drug drop-off box” and invites everyone to dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired drugs there (please note that needles and liquids will not be accepted).

There are many reasons to dispose of medications in drop-boxes like the new one in Britt:

You’ll help prevent trouble in your family. In some surveys, teenagers report that it is very easy for them to get pain relievers from their parents’ medicine cabinets. More than 50 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs say they get them from friends and family.

You’ll help protect the environment. As noted by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Illinois office: “Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCP) can enter the water supply via sinks, toilets, or trash disposals. Many people dispose of human and pet medication either by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash.
“These methods create the potential for harmful chemicals to end up in our lakes, rivers, streams, and ground water. An excess of PPCP in the water can harm the local aquatic ecosystem. The effects of pharmaceuticals can be observed in certain aquatic life, such as fish. Meds that are flushed down the toilet can end up in the water system and affect the environment. Meds that are thrown in the trash can spend years degrading into the soil and eventually make their way into ground and surface water. In addition to the effect on water, chemicals from medicinal waste can also end up in fertilizers used on the soil.”