Freeborn County residents now have the chance to safely dispose of unwanted drugs — prescription or otherwise — through a secured drop box in the lobby of the Freeborn County Law Enforcement Center.

In the works for several months, the box is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

It is in place after a collaborative effort between Freeborn County Partners in Prevention, the United Way of Freeborn County, the Drug Education Task Force, the Albert Lea Police Department, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Freeborn County Environmental Services.

“Having the drug drop box available to Freeborn County residents is a great service to our community,” said Alice Englin, coalition director of Freeborn County Partners in Prevention. “It was, again, the collaboration of many community partners working together to make our community a healthier place.”

The goal of the drop box is to ultimately prevent and reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse. However, officials hope it can also be a place for parents or others to dispose of any illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia they may find.

“This will benefit the community by providing an environmentally safe method for disposing of drugs, and by getting the drugs out of homes we are decreasing youth access which can lead to misuse or abuse,” Englin said.

According to a news release, 70 percent of youth who abuse prescription drugs say they get them from friends and families.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy states prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. Prescription drugs used nonmedically are the second most abused drugs after marijuana.

One of the ways the agency suggested people can reduce the abuse of prescription drugs is by taking advantage of community take-back programs.

Albert Lea’s first-ever prescription drug take-back day in November. During that event, people could drive through a municipal parking lot near the intersection of Newton Avenue and College Street, drop off their medications and then exit the parking lot in less than a minute.

The drug drop box is the next step in prevention efforts.

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said he hopes the box will help take people’s unwanted medications off their hands.

There is a 24-hour recorded camera near the box.

It also comes at a time where there have been several high profile cases revolving around prescription drug abuse.

One of those cases is of Albert Lea resident Lynn Spicer, who reportedly broke into at least 10 residences in Albert Lea and rural Freeborn County while searching for prescription drugs.

Spicer pleaded guilty to six of those break-ins during a Freeborn County District Court hearing Tuesday.

Another case is of Alden teenager Spenser Thomas Knight, who robbed a Sterling Drug pharmacist at knifepoint last June. He was seeking Oxycontin. Knight was ordered to an extended juvenile jurisdiction program in Red Wing. This program is available to rehabilitate juveniles who commit relatively serious crimes but who otherwise had no prior criminal history.

Instructions for dropping off unused prescription drugs:

• Leave the drug in its original container.

• Use a marker to cross out your name and personal information on the container.

• Keep the name of the drug visible.

• Drop the unused drugs into the drug drop box

• No needles or syringes will be accepted. Over-the-counter medications can be disposed of in the trash, and the over-the-counter containers can be recycled.

• For more information about the drop box, people can call 507-377-5504 or 507-377-5258.