Sheriff’s Office To Take Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs

On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Antelope County Sheriff Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Antelope County Sheriff Office at 205 East 6th Street in Neligh.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last October, Americans turned in 647,211 pounds-324 TONS-of drugs at over 5600 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4300 state and local law enforcement partners. Over 5400 pounds came from Nebraskans.
In six previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over two million pounds – over a thousand tons – of medications. Almost 15,000 (7.5 tons) came from Nebraska.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines- flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Sheriff Bob Moore said Monday that county residents can dispose  unwanted prescription drugs anytime by simply coming to the sheriff’s office and placing those items in a box in the foyer of the building. Persons having questions about the program should contact the sheriff’s office.