Every Day Can Be a Drug Take-Back Day in Nebraska

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News Release
 
For Immediate Release: 4/22/2021
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CONTACT
Julie Naughton, Office of Communications, (402) 471-1695 (office); (402) 405-7202 (cell);
julie.naughton@nebraska.gov

 

Lincoln – If you've got leftover prescription medications, it's important to keep them out of the hands of those for whom they are not prescribed.  Nebraska pharmacies and law enforcement agencies have a solution for you, whether that's dropping off your unwanted medications at your local pharmacy any day with the Nebraska MEDS program, or participating in the Drug Enforcement Agency's (DEA) twice-yearly large-scale Take-Back Day events.

 DEA's next formal Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 24. Participating agencies in Nebraska are listed below. But many Nebraska pharmacies offer ways to dispose of unwanted medications every day that their doors are open. A partial list is below, and additional locations can be found on the Nebraska MEDS Coalition's website, https://www.nebraskameds.org. Nebraska MEDS is a coalition of state and community partners dedicated to educating residents about the safe disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications. In addition to educational work, the coalition supports disposal programs that allow residents to dispose of unused and leftover medications.

Sites will accept prescription medication (be sure to remove identifying patient labeling); over-the-counter medication; creams, lotions, or ointments; liquid medication less than four ounces; pet medication, and all of the above in pill, tablet, and capsule form. The drug disposal program does not accept needles, syringes, or lancets; rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide; home-based care or medical equipment supplies; liquid medication greater than four ounces, or thermometers.

During the October 2020 Take-Back Day, the DEA gathered 985,392 pounds (492.7 tons) of medications. In Nebraska, the Nebraska MEDS Coalition collected more than 27,506 pounds of medication in 2020. In January 2021 alone, the Nebraska MEDS Coalition accepted 2,990 pounds of drugs, ranging from opioids to pet medications. These services are free and anonymous, no questions asked. ​

“Leftover prescription drugs, including those related to pain management, present several risks to children, family and others," said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). “Drugs are most often sourced from the home medicine cabinet. Participating in a Drug Take-Back Day or dropping off your unused medications at your local pharmacy's drop box is a way to save a life.  We are grateful to the DEA, pharmacies, law enforcement, and community partners for providing a safe way for individuals to get rid of unwanted and unused medications which is an essential step in helping to combat substance use disorder."

The following DEA Take-Back locations will accept medications between 10 am and 2 pm on Saturday, April 24:​ 

  • Alliance Police Department, 512 Niobrara Ave, Alliance
  • Antelope County Sheriff Department, 1102 L St, Neligh
  • Blair Police Department, 1730 Lincoln St., Blair
  • Bellevue Police Department, 1510 Wall St., Bellevue
  • Boone County Sheriff's Office at Boone County Hospital, 723 W Fairview St, Albion
  • Box Butte County Sheriff's Office, 512 Niobrara Ave., Alliance
  • Broken Bow Police Department, 116 S 11th Ave, Broken Bow
  • Buffalo County Sheriff's Office at Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital, 10 E. 31st St., north parking lot, Kearney
  • Chadron Police Department, 125 N. Main St., Chadron
  • Dixon County Sheriff's Office, Dixon County Courthouse, 302 W 3rd St, Ponca, and 407 Main St, Wakefield
  • Douglas County Sheriff's Department, at HyVee, 156th and Maple and 180th and Pacific; Walgreens at 132nd and Center
  • Fremont Police Department, 725 N Park Ave, Fremont
  • Grand Island Police Department, 111 Public Safety Dr, 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
  • La Vista Police Department, 7701 S. 96th St., La Vista
  • Omaha Police Department at HyVee, 90th and Center and 132nd and Dodge; Walgreens, 24th and Vinton and 30th and Lake
  • Plattsmouth Police Department at Plattsmouth Senior Center,
  • Ralston Police Department, at Walgreens, 8380 Harrison St., La Vista
  • Santee Sioux Tribal Police, BIA Sioux City
  • Sarpy County Sheriff's Office at Hy-Vee, 11650 S. 73rd St., Papillion
  • South Sioux City Police Department Law Enforcement Center, 701 W 29th St, South Sioux City

Also, many pharmacies and health centers have permanent year-round drop boxes. In Nebraska, they include but are not limited to: 

  • Adams Drug, 513 Broadway, Imperial
  • Alliance Community Pharmacy, 315 Box Butte Ave., Alliance
  • Anderson Pharmacy, 1429 M St., Ord
  • Apothecary Shop, 958 Wellness Way, Ste. 2, Pender
  • Arapahoe Pharmacy, 507 Nebraska Ave., Arapahoe
  • Ashland Pharmacy, 1401 Silver St., Ashland
  • Beatrice Community Hospital, 4800 Hospital Pkwy, Beatrice
  • Benkelman Pharmacy, 509 Chief St., Benkelman
  • Bloomfield Pharmacy, 105 S. Broadway Ste. 1, Bloomfield
  • Boone County Sheriff's Office, 217 S. 5th St., Albion
  • Brehm Drug, 608 Howard Ave., Saint Paul
  • Burwell Pharmacy, 137 Grand St., Burwell
  • Butler County Pharmacy, 372S. 9th St., David City
  • Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center, 100 Indian Hills Dr., Macy
  • Charlie's U-Save Pharmacy, 2029 Lincoln Ave., York
  • Clabaugh Pharmacy, 501 Court St., Beatrice
  • Cancer Partners of Nebraska, 201 S. 68th Pl., Ste 200, Lincoln
  • Cody's U-Save Pharmacy, 2220 J St., Auburn
  • Corner Drug, 301 N. Oakland Ave., Oakland
  • Dave's Pharmacy, 223 Box Butte Ave., Alliance; 508 Niobrara Ave.,  Hemingford
  • Elgin Pharmacy, 112 S.2nd St., Elgin
  • Elmwood Pharmacy, 808 S. 52nd St., Omaha
  • Farrell's Pharmacy, 120 W. B St., McCook
  • Fulmer Pharmacy, 1317 Hill St., Holdrege
  • Gering U-Save Pharmacy, 1400 10th St., Gering
  • Globe Rexall Drug, 424 E St., Fairbury
  • Good Life Discount Pharmacy, 124 S. 4th St., Albion; 727 O St., Loup City
  • Gothenburg Discount Pharmacy, 902 Avenue D., Gothenburg
  • Hays Pharmacy, 706 W. Main St., Alma
  • Heart City Drug, 110 N. Main ST., Valentine
  • Henderson Pharmacy, 1060 Main St., Henderson
  • Hilltop Drugs, 108 W. 11th St., Neligh
  • Holcomb Pharmacy, 530 S. 8th Ave., Broken Bow
  • HyVee, 3010 23rd St., Columbus;   840 E.23rd Ave. North, Fremont; 115 Wilmar Ave., Grand Island; 5020 N.27th St, 5010 O St., 1601 N.84th St, 6001 Village Drive, 7151 Stacy Lane, Lincoln; 120E. Norfolk Ave., and 2107 Taylor Ave., Norfolk; 17810 Welch Plz., 1000 S. 178th St, 16418 Westside Dr, 14591 Stony Brook Blvd.,  3410 N. 156th St., 9707 Q St., 747 N.132nd St.,8809 W. Center St., 10808 Fort St., 7910 Cass St., 5150 Center St., 8404 N. 30th St., Omaha; 11650 S.73rd, Papillion; 16418 Westside Dr., Plattsmouth; 500 Plaza Dr., West Point
  • Johnson County Hospital, 202 High St., Tecumseh
  • Kex Rx Pharmacy and Home Care, 120 E. 18th St., Falls City
  • Lake Crest Pharmacy, 620 Main St. Ste B, Adams
  • Lambert's Family Pharmacy, 814 N. 1st St., Gibbon
  • Lexington Regional Medical Center, 1201 N. Erie St., Lexington
  • Kohll's RX, 808 N. 27th St, Lincoln; 12741 Q Street, 5002 Dodge St., 2915 Leavenworth St., Omaha
  • Mark's Pharmacy, 624 Patterson, Cambridge
  • Nebraska Medical Center Bellevue Pharmacy, 2510 Bellevue Medical Center Dr., Ste. 100, Bellevue
  • Neighborhood Pharmacy, 1265 S. Cotner Blvd., Suite 30, Lincoln; 5115 S.11th St., Omaha
  • Nein Pharmacy, 1012 Main St., Bridgeport
  • Nemaha County Hospital, 2022 S. 13th St., Auburn
  • Our Town Pharmacy, 733 2nd St., Chappell
  • Osmond Pharmacy, 322 State St., Osmond
  • Petersen Drug, 302 Main St., Chadron
  • Relycare Pharmacy, 1221 N. Cotner Blvd., Ste 1, Lincoln
  • Rock County Pharmacy, 801 S. State St., Bassett
  • Ron's Pharmacy, 537 Gage St., Blue Hill
  • Safeway Pharmacy, 500 E. 3rd St., Alliance
  • Schuyler Pharmacy, 122 W. 16th St., Schuyler
  • Service Drug Store, 133 E. 8th St., Cozad
  • Seven Valleys Health Mart, 200 E. Pacific St., Calloway
  • Stockman's Drug, 116 N. Main St., Gordon
  • Tooley's Pharmacy, 415 Hawkeye St., Osceola
  • University of Nebraska Health Center Pharmacy, 550 N.19th St., Lincoln
  • U-Save Pharmacy, 3611 2nd Ave., Kearney, 603 N. Washington, Lexington; 1821 S. 11th St., Nebraska City; 1001 W. Benjamin Ave., Norfolk; 23 N. Spruce St., Ogallala
  • Varney Health Mart, 744 S. E St., Broken Bow
  • Via Rx, 825 N.90th St., Omaha
  • Village Pharmacy, 317 N. Webster St., Red Cloud
  • Walgreens, 2320 23rd St., Columbus; 2516 Second Ave., Kearney; 1701 South St, 7045 O St, Lincoln; 2605 S.171st St, 13155 W. Center Rd, 3701 N.132nd St., 9001 Blondo St., 5038 Center St., Omaha; 205 W.27th St., Scottsbluff
  • Wal-Mart Pharmacy, 1882 Holly St., Blair; 818 E. 23rd St., Columbus; 1800 E. 29th St., Crete; 2831 Hwy.15, Fairbury; 3010 E. 23rd Ave North, Fremont; 11350 Wickersham Blvd., Gretna; 3803 Osborne Dr., Hastings; 4700 N. 27th Street;  200 Frontier St., Lexington; 7045 O Street, 8700 Andermatt Dr., Lincoln; 1401 S. Dewey, North Platte; 8525 S.71st Plz., Papillion;  1326 280th Rd, Seward; 101 E. David Dr., York
  • Wells Drug, 113 S.4th St., Albion
  • West Holt Pharmacy, 313 W. Pearl St., Atkinson
  • Wisner Apothecary, 1024 Ave E. St.100, Wisner
  • Valley Pharmacy, 211 W.33rd St., Kearney

For information about substance use disorder treatment, call the Nebraska Family Helpline at 1-888-866-8660. They can help callers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with any problem. Interpreters are available. Online, please visit http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Addiction-Treatment-and-Recovery.aspx.​

Need to talk or get immediate help in a crisis?

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish.
  • Nebraska Family Helpline, (888) 866-8660.  They can engage Crisis Response Teams
  • Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 
  • Rural Response Hotline, (800) 464-0258
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 (oprime dos para Español), or text TalkWithUs for English or llámanos para español to 66746.
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
  • National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
  • The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116  

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