Omaha DEA collects nearly 19,000 pounds of unwanted meds during annual event

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Omaha division of the Drug Enforcement Administration collected nearly 19,000 pounds of unwanted medicine during the annual Take Back Day.

A total of 18,729 pounds of medicine were collected at 176 sites in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota on April 30.

“This spring, despite several rain showers across parts of our Division, we collected more than nine tons of medications,” said Justin King, special agent in charge of the Omaha Division.  “Together, we removed the temptation for misuse of unused prescription medications from quite a few households.”

Nationally, the agency collected more than 720,000 pounds of medicine, according to a press release.

Over 107,000 people died because of a drug overdose in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The event provides an easy way to dispose of medicines that are no longer being used.  Permanent drop boxes will remain in some communities, the agency says.

Since 2010, the DEA has collected around 16 million pounds of medicine during the annual event.

Complete results of the event can be found at www.DEATakeBack.com.