More Than 14 Tons of Medications Collected at DEA Omaha Division Take Back Day Event

OMAHA, Neb.  – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division, alongside 135 state and local law enforcement partners, collected more than 28,000 pounds of unused medications at 163 sites in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota, at the 27th National Prescription Take Back Day on October 26. This marks the highest total collected across the DEA Omaha Division since April 2021, when more than 37,000 pounds was tallied.

“Across the country, people are recognizing the importance of tossing out unused prescription medications,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell said. “Whether it’s to remove the temptation for experimentation, dispose of the medication in a way that’s environmentally safe or a combination of factors, we had a tremendous showing this fall and we’re grateful for the support of our Midwestern communities.”

Nationally, the DEA collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications at more than 4,600 locations. Since its inception, DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day has removed nearly 19.2 million pounds of unneeded medications from communities across our country. This effort to empty medicine cabinets helps to prevent drug misuse before it starts.

According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the majority of people who misuse prescription medication for a non-medical purpose got that medication from a family member or friend.

DEA continues to expand opportunities to make safe disposal of medications more accessible nationwide. There are nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal every single day of the year. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes. To find a year-round drop off location, visit Every Day is Take Back Day | DEA.gov.

Complete results for DEA’s fall National Prescription Drug Take Back Day are available here.