Hundreds of bottles of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs will now be properly disposed of after the first-ever prescription drug take-back day in Albert Lea.

For four hours Saturday, Freeborn County residents were invited to dispose of prescriptions and over-the-counter medication during a collection day at the corner of Newton Avenue and College Street.

The event was a result of collaboration between numerous entities, including the Drug Education Task Force, Freeborn County Partners in Prevention, the Albert Lea Police Department, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office, Freeborn County Environmental Services and the Freeborn County Probation Office.

“We did this event to raise awareness of prescription abuse,” said Alice Englin with Freeborn County Partners in Prevention. “If we can get them out of the homes that will be a big deterrent.”

According to DEA statistics, an estimated 20 percent of the U.S. population have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime. One in five teens nationwide have reportedly intentionally abused prescription drugs to get high while one in 10 reportedly abused cough medicine to get high.

Englin said 70 percent of youth who are abusing prescription drugs are getting them from the homes of their family or friends.

Take-back days have been successful in surrounding communities to counter this problem, so local officials wanted to try one here.

Englin said organizers hope this is just the first step of a permanent, on-going effort to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse, while also encouraging people to properly dispose of their medications.

During the event, people could drive through the parking lot, drop off their medications through the window and then exit the parking lot in less than a minute.

She said by just after 10 a.m., about 45 Freeborn County residents had dropped off medications. The traffic was steady during the first hour, though they had expected more people.

The amount of prescriptions each person disposed of varied; while one driver only had one bottle, another driver had an entire box full.

People were encouraged to leave the medications in their original containers, with the name of the medication on the bottles. They were also advised to cross off their names.

Most of the people who participated followed these guidelines, though there was one person who dropped off a quart-size bag full of loose pills.

After the medications were dropped off, officers and Freeborn County Environmental Services employees sorted them into three categories: pills, liquids and over-the-counter medications.

Over-the-counter medications can be thrown in the garbage, but prescription medications should be disposed off in a different manner.

Freeborn County Environmental Services Director Randy Tuchtenhagen said after the medications are sorted into different categories, they will be stored in the evidence room at the Freeborn County Law Enforcement Center.

All prescription drugs collected in Minnesota are currently being incinerated at a site in Illinois, he said. A law enforcement officer must be a witness to each step of the process to assure the drugs are not misused.

Tuchtenhagen said it is important that people not flush their prescription medications because there is no treatment for prescriptions at the wastewater treatment plant.

One person who took advantage of the take-back day was Albert Lea resident Darlene Alberts.

Alberts said she appreciated how smoothly the drop-off went.

“I’m a firm believer when the dates on your prescriptions pass you should get rid of them,” she said. “I don’t like having all that old stuff around.”

Albert Lea Police Chief Dwaine Winkels said law enforcement was involved in the collection because prescription drug abuse has been one of the trends officers have seen during the last five years.

Even recently, there have been several high profile cases revolving around prescription drugs in Freeborn County.

One of those cases is of area resident Lynn Spicer, who allegedly broke into at least 10 residences in Albert Lea and rural Freeborn County while searching for prescription drugs. She is currently in a state-funded rehab program and faces second-degree burglary charges in each instance.

“Anytime somebody violates someone’s home like that, we consider that to be very serious because there could be serious consequences,” Winkels said.

He said he wants people to have a proper way to get rid of unwanted prescriptions.

“We want to take as many off the streets as possible,” he added.

Organizers hope during the beginning of 2011, there will be a permanent box set up in the Law Enforcement Center where people can drop off their unwanted medications. A camera will monitor drop-offs.

Winkels said organizers also hope to have further outreach, including some education to the public, along with a potential one-day collection at the various senior living centers.

In the meantime, if people have questions about disposing of their medications, they should call Freeborn County Partners in Prevention at 377-5504 or local law enforcement at 377-5205.

The prescription take-back day was funded by a federal Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant and sponsored by the United Way of Freeborn County in coordination with the other entities.

Medication disposal instructions:

Over-the-counter medications — including aspirin, cough syrup, Tylenol and vitamins — can be thrown into the garbage. Never flush.

Prescription medications: Until the permanent disposal box at the Law Enforcement Center is in place, authorities are suggesting people remove the drugs from their original containers and mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter. This makes the medication less appealing to children and pets, and unrecognizable to people who may intentionally go through your trash. Put the drugs in a sealable bag or other container and then place in garbage bag.

Needles or syringes: Albert Lea Medical Center provides free storage containers and disposal of used needles or syringes. Containers can be picked up at the lab of ALMC and then returned when full.

— Information from Freeborn County Partners in Prevention