Beyond Take Back Day: Turning Medication Waste into Access for Iowans with Cancer
By Kenzie Harder, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy at SafeNetRx
On April 25, communities across Iowa will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The message is clear and important: safely dispose of unused medications to prevent misuse, accidental poisoning, and environmental harm.
That message matters.
But for some Iowans living with cancer, the story of unused medication is more complicated.
Across our state, patients receiving cancer treatment face rising out-of-pocket costs, high copays, and delays caused by insurance approvals. At the same time, unopened and unexpired prescription medications, including high-cost cancer treatments, are often destroyed.
As we recognize Take Back Day, there is an opportunity to broaden the conversation. In addition to safe disposal, Iowa has a regulated drug donation program, SafeNetRx, that allows certain eligible medications to be safely redistributed to patients who need them most. By understanding which medications should be disposed of and which may qualify for donation, we can create a more comprehensive and responsible approach to medication stewardship in Iowa.
When This Work Became Personal
For me, medication access is not just professional; it is deeply personal.
Shortly before my daughter was born, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with colon cancer. Last summer, a close friend was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at just 48. Nearly everyone I know has been touched by cancer in some way. While my work as a pharmacist gave me an understanding of treatment pathways and cost structures, walking alongside them revealed what those numbers fail to capture.
Cancer does not just bring clinical decisions. It brings financial stress, uncertainty, and the weight of navigating complex systems at the exact moment families are most vulnerable.
I have seen the stability that strong financial support and reliable insurance coverage can provide during cancer treatment. I have also considered what happens when that support is limited or unavailable.
Watching safe, high-cost medications be destroyed while patients fight to access the very therapy they need makes the gap impossible to ignore. It is no longer theoretical – it is personal, immediate, and deeply human. That reality continues to shape my commitment to SafeNetRx and to strengthening Iowa’s drug donation infrastructure.
The Growing Burden of Financial Toxicity
Cancer treatment has evolved rapidly. More therapies are available in oral form than ever before, allowing patients to receive treatment at home. But with that shift often comes increased financial responsibility.
Oral oncology medications can carry significant out-of-pocket costs, even for insured patients. This financial strain, known as financial toxicity, is increasingly recognized as a critical issue in cancer care. Research from the National Cancer Institute and the American Society of Clinical Oncology has shown that financial hardship can contribute to delayed treatment, medication non-adherence and increased stress that affects quality of life.
In Iowa, rural geography and gaps in insurance coverage can make access to cancer care even more challenging. Many patients travel long distances, often taking unpaid time off work and coordinating transportation to receive treatment or pick up medication, only to learn that the prescription carries a high copay they can’t afford or requires prior authorization. At an already overwhelming moment, these added barriers can force patients into impossible choices between paying for life-saving medication and meeting basic household needs.
Meanwhile, many unused, unopened, and unexpired meds are destroyed.
That contrast is difficult to ignore.
Safe Disposal Matters — But So Does Safe Donation
National Drug Take Back Day plays an essential role in public health. Disposal is the appropriate action for medications that are opened, expired, improperly stored, or ineligible for redistribution.
But when medications meet strict safety and eligibility criteria, destruction does not have to be the only option.
Through SafeNetRx, Iowa has a structured and regulated pathway for drug donation. Eligible medications must be:
- In sealed, tamper-evident packaging
- Unexpired
- Properly stored and handled
- Non-controlled substances
- Require standard room temp storage (no refrigeration)
Licensed pharmacists inspect and verify all donated medications before distribution. Not every medication qualifies, and safety remains the priority. But for certain high-cost therapies, including some oral oncology meds, donation offers a safe and meaningful alternative to disposal.
This is not about replacing Take Back Day. It is about complementing it.
Safe disposal protects communities. Safe donation expands access.
Both are essential.
How Drug Donation Supports Patients with Cancer
For patients in active treatment, timing matters.
Drug donation programs can help bridge gaps created by:
- Insurance authorization delays
- High copayments
- Temporary coverage interruptions
- Underinsured or uninsured status
In oncology care, delays in starting or continuing therapy can increase anxiety and complicate treatment planning. Access to eligible donated medication can serve as a short-term safety net, helping patients stay on prescribed therapy while long-term coverage solutions are arranged.
When integrated alongside insurance pathways and financial assistance programs, SafeNetRx strengthens continuity of care and reduces cost-related barriers.
For some patients, that bridge can make an enormous difference.
The Role of Providers and Community Partners
Healthcare providers, pharmacies, cancer centers, and community organizations are uniquely positioned to connect safe disposal with access solutions.
Providers can:
- Educate patients on proper medication disposal
- Understand eligibility criteria for drug donation
- Identify patients who may benefit from SafeNetRx
- Incorporate donation awareness into financial navigation workflows
Community partners and pharmacies can:
- Promote both Take Back Day and drug donation awareness
- Clarify when disposal is appropriate and when donation may be possible
- Support responsible medication stewardship through outreach and education
By building awareness of drug donation alongside disposal efforts, Iowa can reduce waste while easing financial strain for patients facing cancer.
This Take Back Day, Think Beyond Disposal
On April 25, Iowans are encouraged to safely dispose of unused medications at authorized collection sites. That message remains essential.
But this Take Back Day also offers an opportunity to expand awareness.
When medications are unopened, unexpired, and meet eligibility standards, donation through SafeNetRx provides another safe pathway – one that transforms potential waste into access for patients in active cancer treatment.
By working together providers, pharmacies, community organizations, and patients – Iowa can advance a more comprehensive approach to medication stewardship.
Safe disposal protects communities.
Safe donation strengthens access.
Both are part of building a more equitable cancer care system for Iowans.
To learn more about how to donate eligible medications or to see if your organization can participate, visit the SafeNetRx website for clear guidance and next steps. This Take Back Day, let’s not only dispose safely – but also donate when we can.