United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OMAHA, NE –The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its partners will host the 26th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 27, at nearly 5,000 locations nationwide, including approximately 170 drop-offs within the five state DEA Omaha Division. The public is invited to safely dispose of tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs at Take Back locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Vaping devices and cartridges will also be accepted, as long as lithium batteries are removed.

The DEA Omaha Division encompasses Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. For 15 years, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—some of which can be a gateway to addiction. A complete list of Take Back sites can be found at www.TakeBackDay.com  

“It happens all too often where leftover prescription medications are forgotten about and sit unused in a medicine cabinet,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “We need to remove that temptation for misuse and experimentation by disposing of prescriptions that are no longer needed in an environmentally safe way. In addition, our hope is that Take Back Day serves as an opportunity for families to have open and honest conversations about the potentially life altering consequences that can come from drug use and abuse.”

There are several ways to misuse prescription medications including taking a medicine prescribed to someone else, using medicine in a way other than it was prescribed, taking medicines to get high or feel numb, or mixing medicine with illicit drugs or alcohol. According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, are the most misused prescription pain medications. 

Beyond Saturday’s Take Back Day event, there are countless opportunities to routinely and safely dispose of unneeded medications at close to 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses. In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.