CONTACT
Julie Naughton, Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-1695 (office); (402) 405-7202 (cell); julie.naughton@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – The prescription medications you dispose of now may just save a loved one's health and life in the future – and whether that's dropping off your unwanted pills at your local pharmacy any day or participating in the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) twice-yearly large-scale events, you can lessen the chances that dangerous substances will fall into the wrong hands.
“The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet," said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. “You can help keep your loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused and expired prescription medications."
Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold, and unused medications that are flushed contaminate the water supply. If a local program is not available, take the meds out of their bottles; mix them with something unappealing, like used kitty litter, or seal them in a bag or disposable container and throw that away.
However, a number of Nebraska drugstores feature year-round drug take-backs. Visit the Nebraska Meds Coalition's website, https://www.nebraskameds.org, for a long list of pharmacies across the state that take part in this valuable program. “We hope all Nebraskans understand the importance of disposing of leftover medications," noted Sarah Hunter, project coordinator for the Nebraska MEDS Coalition. “Since the Nebraska MEDS initiative went statewide in 2016, we have kept over 100,000 pounds of medication out of our water supply, out of the landfill, and out of the wrong hands. Remember, every day is take-back day in Nebraska." The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Twice a year, the Drug Enforcement Agency holds wide-scale take-back days in April and October, DHHS and other partners urge consumers to take all unused prescription pills and patches (liquids, needles and sharps cannot be accepted) to a collection spot.
On the last Drug Take-back Day on April 27, 2019, Nebraska's DEA collected 5,661 pounds of prescription drugs from more than 47 locations throughout the state. To date, Nebraska has collected 94,149 pounds of prescriptions in DEA-related take-back efforts since the initiative was implemented.
The following DEA Take-back locations will accept medications between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday, Oct. 26:
- Blair Police Department, 1730 Lincoln St., Blair
- Bellevue Police Department, 1510 Wall St., Bellevue
- Box Butte County Sheriff's Office, 512 Niobrara Ave., Alliance
- Buffalo County Sheriff's Office at Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital, 10 E. 31st St., Kearney
- Columbus Police Department at Walgreens, 2329 23rd St., Columbus
- Dawes County Sheriff Karl Dailey's office, 451 Main St., Chadron
- Deuel County Sheriff's Office, 718 3rd St., Chappell
- Douglas County Sheriff's Department, at Walgreens, 13155 W. Center Rd.; at HyVee, 3410 N.156th St., Omaha, and 1000 S. 178th St., Omaha
- Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Franklin County Courthouse, 405 15th Ave., Franklin
- Fremont Police Department, Lobby, 725 N. Park Ave., Fremont
- Grand Island Police Department, at Walmart, 3501 S. Locust St., Grand Island
- Hastings Police Department, 317 S. Burlington Ave., Hastings
- Holdrege Police Department, Holdrege Middle School, 600 14th Ave., Holdrege
- Imperial Police Department, 637 Broadway St., Imperial
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Jefferson County Law Enforcement Center, NE corner of the LEC Building, 606 3rd St., Fairbury
- La Vista Police Department, 7701 S. 96th St., La Vista
- Nebraska State Patrol, CHI Health St. Francis, South Patient Lobby entrance, 2620 W. Faidley Ave., Grand Island
- Omaha Police Department, NW Precinct, at HyVee, 8809 W. Center Rd., Omaha; HyVee, 747 N. 132 St.; 3121 S. 24th St., Omaha, and Walgreens, 3005 Lake St., Omaha
- Ralston Police Department, at Walgreens, 8380 Harrison St., La Vista
- Sarpy County Sheriff's Office at HyVee, 11650 S. 73rd St., Papillion
- Sheridan Police Department, 605 ½ E. 2nd St. #303, Rushville
- Sidney Police Department, 1715 Illinois St., Sidney
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or Take Back Day, visit https://www.nebraskameds.org/ or www.DEATakeBack.com. For more information about substance use disorder treatment, please visit http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Behavioral-Health.aspx and https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/locator . DHHS will host a Facebook Live event with the Nebraska Meds Coalition on Thursday, October 24, at 1 pm. Access this conversation via the DHHS Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/NEDHHS/.