Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in Nebraska is this Saturday

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in Nebraska is this Saturday
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April 23rd, 2021 | Beth Rogers

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 events.

DEA’s next formal take-back day is Saturday, April 24. Participating agencies in Nebraska are listed below. But many Nebraska pharmacies offer take-back days 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:

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

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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