THE CAUSE'S EFFORTS
JOIN US APRIL 30TH 2022
Medication misuse affects Rock Island County too. From 2016 to 2017, opiate overdose fatalities tripled.
Every April and October, The C.A.U.S.E. organizes sites across Rock Island County to participate. We currently partner with six local law enforcement agencies.
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Rock Island County Sheriff's Office: 1317 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL 61201-(309) 794-1230
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Moline Police Department: 1640 6th Ave, Moline, IL 61265-(309) 797-0401
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Milan Police Department: 405 1st St E, Milan, IL 61264- (309) 787-8520
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East Moline Police Department: 915 16th Ave, East Moline, IL 61244-(309) 752-1555
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Silvis Police Department: 600 Illini Dr, Silvis, IL 61282-(309) 792-1841
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Colona Police Department: 215 1st St, Colona, IL 61241- (309) 949-3091
Several hundred pounds were collected in 2021. In the state of Illinois over 155 sites collected 27,176 pounds in October 2021
Thank you to all our local law enforcement, CAUSE volunteers, and participating community for creating a healthier environment.
DEA'S NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a semi-annual event that happens in April and October. This initiative started in 2010 to help address the crucial public safety and public health issue of medication misuse.
On average, 115 Americans die every day from opiate overdoses.
Approximately 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs in 2018.
Survey results show that a popular source for those misusing was taking medications from friends and family homes.
This event is free and anonymous. Participants simply drive up and volunteers will take the medications from the driver directly to our DEA box for disposal.
Only pills and patches are accepted. No liquids, inhalers, sharps, or needles will be taken.
This national event has collected more than 12 million pounds of prescription and OTC medications since 2010. We are proud to be involved and contribute on a local level.
If you are not in the Quad Cities Area and would like to participate, search for drop-offs near you.
DISPOSAL TIPS
YEAR-ROUND DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations are all over the country.
These boxes accept any pills or patches.
They are only accessed by authorized personnel (usually local law enforcement).
VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamins and supplements are designed to help our bodies but can cause damage when misused. Prenatal vitamins and multivitamins (some of which are bright-colored and/or gummies) contain vitamin A and iron which can hurt children. Please keep them up high and away from a child's reach.
One of the best methods of disposing these at home is to pour the pills into a bag with some water and coffee grounds or cat litter. Then throw that tied/zipped bag into the trash.
"GONE FOR GOOD" DISPOSAL PROGRAM
*LIMITED TIME*
Deterra Drug Deactivation System and SAFE Project gave away more than 10,000 free disposal pouches before and are back in October 2020 with a higher goal... to eliminate 1,000,000 unused/expired prescription pills nationwide. There is a short form to complete and pouches should start shipping in November 2020.
E-CIGARETTES & VAPING DEVICES
DEA will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers ONLY after the batteries are removed from the device(s).
If the battery cannot be removed, check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the devices for disposal.
The Hazardous Materials Management Facility might be able to accept the devices as well or at least provide assistance.
FAST FACTS
ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Approximately 4% of local adolescents have used prescription drugs not prescribed to them in the past 30 days.
About 38% of high school students report it would be "sort of easy" or "very easy" to access prescription drugs not prescribed to them.
In 2017, 21 people died of an opiate overdose. This is 3 times the rate of previous years.
ILLINOIS STATE
During the Oct 2019 event, almost 30,000 lbs. of medications were collected in Illinois alone.
About 2% high school students using prescription painkillers with the intent of getting high in the past year.
3% of 12th-graders used other prescription drugs to get high 3 or more times within the past year.
13% of high school students report using prescription drugs that aren't prescribed to them has "no risk" or "slight risk".
The most common sources of prescription drugs for those misusing them are (1) buying them from someone, (2) someone other than a parent giving them away, and (3) taking them from home without parent/guardian permission.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Nat'l Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative started in 2010 and has over 6,000 collection sites across the U.S. and U.S. territories.
Approximately 80% of heroin users first misused prescription drugs.
In 2018, about 9.9 million Americans misused prescription drugs.
The U.S. 12th-grade prescription drug misuse has been declining since 2013: from 16% down to 10%.
F.A.Q.
If you don't find your question answered here, please reach out to us so we can help.
WHAT IF I CAN'T ATTEND THAT DAY?
That is totally fine. There are local and national year-round drop boxes available. Some are inside of Walgreens and some are hosted by law enforcement. Click here to search your area.
WHY CAN'T I TURN IN LIQUIDS, INHALERS, NEEDLES, AND/OR SHARPS?
We can accept any pill or patch because they can be destroyed quite easily by the DEA. (They are incinerated.) Liquids and inhalers cannot be destroyed the same way so it is not efficient to accept them at this time. Needles and sharps are risky to collect without proper medical storage.
CAN'T I JUST THROW MY PILLS OUT IN THE GARBAGE OR FLUSH THEM DOWN THE TOILET?
Yes, you can. Disposing of extra and expired medications in any way can help create a safer home. Environmentally, flushing and dumping medications can hurt. About 800,000+ pounds are gathered at each semi-annual event. Now imagine 1.5 million pounds of controlled substances each year in our water ways or leaching into the ground. Bringing them to a Take Back Day site or year-round drop box stops that from happening.
HOW CAN I HELP?
The CAUSE is always looking for volunteers and members. Some of our partners assist day of by working a collection site while others help with passing out flyers, conducting interviews, and updating our data. If you are interested in helping, please contact us. Thanks!
