Midwestern Communities Safely Dispose of 18,710 Pounds of Unwanted Medications at DEA Take Back Day Event

OMAHA, NE – Midwestern communities across the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Field Division safely disposed of 18,710 pounds of unneeded and expired medications, October 25, at the 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Nationally, the DEA and its law enforcement partners removed 571,054 pounds of medication at 4,317 collection sites.

More than 125 law enforcement partners in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and counties in western Illinois joined the DEA in hosting 132 Take Back Day locations.

“Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to clean out medicine cabinets and drawers of unused and expired medications,” DEA Omaha Field Division Special Agent in Charge Dustin Gillespie said. “Each pill, patch and capsule that was dropped off at a Take Back location represents one less temptation for misuse or abuse. We’re grateful for your support and hope you will continue to dispose of unneeded medications at year-round collection sites near you.”

Since its inception in 2010, more than 20 million pounds of medication have been collected at DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The removal of these medications from homes nationwide helps prevent prescription drug misuse and reduces the potential for accidental overdoses and poisonings. 

For those unable to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are nearly 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals and businesses, in addition to numerous police departments, that offer safe medication disposal year-round. For information on permanent drop-off locations, please visit DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day website.

Complete results for DEA’s fall National Prescription Drug Take Back Day are available at www.dea.gov/TakeBackDay.