OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — If you have medications you need to get rid of, and want to do so in a manner that is safe and keeps them out of the hands of people who might abuse them, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) says several agencies across the state are holding a drug take-back day on Saturday.
The Drug Enforcement Agency, along with law enforcement agencies in the state, will carry out the bi-annual event but DHHS says you don't need to wait for such an event to get rid of old medication. Your local pharmacy may be able to properly dispose of them for you. You can find a list of pharmacies that participate by clicking this link.
While you may be tempted to throw medication out with your garbage, ignore it or flush it, this can lead to it ending up in the wrong hands and can harm the environment and local water supply.
“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,” added Sarah Hunter, project coordinator for the Nebraska MEDS Coalition. “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.
Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, you can drop off medications at the following locations:
- 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
- Chadron Police Department, 125 N. Main St., Chadron
- Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, at Walgreens, 13155 W. Center Rd.; at Hy-Vee, 3410 N.156th St., Omaha, and 1000 S. 178th St., Omaha
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Courthouse, 405 15th Ave., Franklin
- 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
- Ralston Police Department, at Walgreens, 8380 Harrison St., La Vista
- Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office at Hy-Vee, 11650 S. 73rd St., Papillion
- South Sioux City Police Department, 701 West 29th St., South Sioux City
During the last take-back day, 2,498 pounds of medication were collected.
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