More than 780,000 pounds of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs were turned in during drug take-back days nationwide in April.
Another prescription drug take-back day is Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. The DEA and local law enforcement agencies are sponsoring the event. You can dispose of unused or unwanted prescriptions at several sites in the metro area, no questions asked.
Joan McVoy, a registered nurse and an educator with the Nebraska Regional Poison Center, says those drugs can be dangerous if they end up in the wrong hands.
"Things like hydrocodone and oxycodone, these are the things that people are looking for and trying to abuse. But there’s other medications around the home that can be very dangerous, like your medications for high blood pressure, or diabetic medications, seizure medications. So if you’re not using these medications anymore, get rid of them."
McVoy says the drug take-back day is a good way to properly dispose of prescriptions, so they don’t end up in the water supply or landfills.
You can find a drug take-back site by calling 1-800-222-1222.