Apr 23, 2021

DHHS: Every day can be Drug Take Back Day in Nebraska

Posted Apr 23, 2021 11:15 AM
prescription pills
prescription pills

News Release Nebraska DHHS

LINCOLN, Neb.-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. 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:​ 

  1. Alliance Police Department, 512 Niobrara Ave, Alliance
  2. Antelope County Sheriff Department, 1102 L St, Neligh
  3. Blair Police Department, 1730 Lincoln St., Blair
  4. Bellevue Police Department, 1510 Wall St., Bellevue
  5. Boone County Sheriff's Office at Boone County Hospital, 723 W Fairview St, Albion
  6. Box Butte County Sheriff's Office, 512 Niobrara Ave., Alliance
  7. Broken Bow Police Department, 116 S 11th Ave, Broken Bow
  8. Buffalo County Sheriff's Office at Kearney Good Samaritan Hospital, 10 E. 31st St., north parking lot, Kearney
  9. Chadron Police Department, 125 N. Main St., Chadron
  10. Dixon County Sheriff's Office, Dixon County Courthouse, 302 W 3rd St, Ponca, and 407 Main St, Wakefield
  11. Douglas County Sheriff's Department, at HyVee, 156th and Maple and 180th and Pacific; Walgreens at 132nd and Center
  12. Fremont Police Department, 725 N Park Ave, Fremont
  13. Grand Island Police Department, 111 Public Safety Dr, Grand Island
  14. Hastings Police Department, 317 S. Burlington Ave., Hastings
  15. Holdrege Police Department, Holdrege Middle School, 600 14th Ave., Holdrege
  16. Imperial Police Department, 637 Broadway St., Imperial
  17. La Vista Police Department, 7701 S. 96th St., La Vista
  18. Omaha Police Department at HyVee, 90th and Center and 132nd and Dodge; Walgreens, 24th and Vinton and 30th and Lake
  19. Plattsmouth Police Department at Plattsmouth Senior Center,
  20. Ralston Police Department, at Walgreens, 8380 Harrison St., La Vista
  21. Santee Sioux Tribal Police, BIA Sioux City
  22. Sarpy County Sheriff's Office at Hy-Vee, 11650 S. 73rd St., Papillion
  23. 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: 

  1. Adams Drug, 513 Broadway, Imperial
  2. Alliance Community Pharmacy, 315 Box Butte Ave., Alliance
  3. Anderson Pharmacy, 1429 M St., Ord
  4. Apothecary Shop, 958 Wellness Way, Ste. 2, Pender
  5. Arapahoe Pharmacy, 507 Nebraska Ave., Arapahoe
  6. Ashland Pharmacy, 1401 Silver St., Ashland
  7. Beatrice Community Hospital, 4800 Hospital Pkwy, Beatrice
  8. Benkelman Pharmacy, 509 Chief St., Benkelman
  9. Bloomfield Pharmacy, 105 S. Broadway Ste. 1, Bloomfield
  10. Boone County Sheriff's Office, 217 S. 5th St., Albion
  11. Brehm Drug, 608 Howard Ave., Saint Paul
  12. Burwell Pharmacy, 137 Grand St., Burwell
  13. Butler County Pharmacy, 372S. 9th St., David City
  14. Carl T. Curtis Health Education Center, 100 Indian Hills Dr., Macy
  15. Charlie's U-Save Pharmacy, 2029 Lincoln Ave., York
  16. Clabaugh Pharmacy, 501 Court St., Beatrice
  17. Cancer Partners of Nebraska, 201 S. 68th Pl., Ste 200, Lincoln
  18. Cody's U-Save Pharmacy, 2220 J St., Auburn
  19. Corner Drug, 301 N. Oakland Ave., Oakland
  20. Dave's Pharmacy, 223 Box Butte Ave., Alliance; 508 Niobrara Ave.,  Hemingford
  21. Elgin Pharmacy, 112 S.2nd St., Elgin
  22. Elmwood Pharmacy, 808 S. 52nd St., Omaha
  23. Farrell's Pharmacy, 120 W. B St., McCook
  24. Fulmer Pharmacy, 1317 Hill St., Holdrege
  25. Gering U-Save Pharmacy, 1400 10th St., Gering
  26. Globe Rexall Drug, 424 E St., Fairbury
  27. Good Life Discount Pharmacy, 124 S. 4th St., Albion; 727 O St., Loup City
  28. Gothenburg Discount Pharmacy, 902 Avenue D., Gothenburg
  29. Hays Pharmacy, 706 W. Main St., Alma
  30. Heart City Drug, 110 N. Main ST., Valentine
  31. Henderson Pharmacy, 1060 Main St., Henderson
  32. Hilltop Drugs, 108 W. 11th St., Neligh
  33. Holcomb Pharmacy, 530 S. 8th Ave., Broken Bow
  34. 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
  35. Johnson County Hospital, 202 High St., Tecumseh
  36. Kex Rx Pharmacy and Home Care, 120 E. 18th St., Falls City
  37. Lake Crest Pharmacy, 620 Main St. Ste B, Adams
  38. Lambert's Family Pharmacy, 814 N. 1st St., Gibbon
  39. Lexington Regional Medical Center, 1201 N. Erie St., Lexington
  40. Kohll's RX, 808 N. 27th St, Lincoln; 12741 Q Street, 5002 Dodge St., 2915 Leavenworth St., Omaha
  41. Mark's Pharmacy, 624 Patterson, Cambridge
  42. Nebraska Medical Center Bellevue Pharmacy, 2510 Bellevue Medical Center Dr., Ste. 100, Bellevue
  43. Neighborhood Pharmacy, 1265 S. Cotner Blvd., Suite 30, Lincoln; 5115 S.11th St., Omaha
  44. Nein Pharmacy, 1012 Main St., Bridgeport
  45. Nemaha County Hospital, 2022 S. 13th St., Auburn
  46. Our Town Pharmacy, 733 2nd St., Chappell
  47. Osmond Pharmacy, 322 State St., Osmond
  48. Petersen Drug, 302 Main St., Chadron
  49. Relycare Pharmacy, 1221 N. Cotner Blvd., Ste 1, Lincoln
  50. Rock County Pharmacy, 801 S. State St., Bassett
  51. Ron's Pharmacy, 537 Gage St., Blue Hill
  52. Safeway Pharmacy, 500 E. 3rd St., Alliance
  53. Schuyler Pharmacy, 122 W. 16th St., Schuyler
  54. Service Drug Store, 133 E. 8th St., Cozad
  55. Seven Valleys Health Mart, 200 E. Pacific St., Calloway
  56. Stockman's Drug, 116 N. Main St., Gordon
  57. Tooley's Pharmacy, 415 Hawkeye St., Osceola
  58. University of Nebraska Health Center Pharmacy, 550 N.19th St., Lincoln
  59. 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
  60. Varney Health Mart, 744 S. E St., Broken Bow
  61. Via Rx, 825 N.90th St., Omaha
  62. Village Pharmacy, 317 N. Webster St., Red Cloud
  63. 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
  64. 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
  65. Wells Drug, 113 S.4th St., Albion
  66. West Holt Pharmacy, 313 W. Pearl St., Atkinson
  67. Wisner Apothecary, 1024 Ave E. St.100, Wisner
  68. 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?

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