Prescription take back program looks to curb opioid crisis

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

The statistics are staggering.

"Every two days a person dies of a drug overdose in Nebraska," said Marcia Mueting, a licensed pharmacist and member of the Nebraska Pharmacists Association. 

The effects of the opioid epidemic can be felt in every city across our state.

In an effort to bring attention to the growing crisis Governor Pete Ricketts declared this week drug overdose awareness week.

A program called Nebraska MED is helping people get rid of their medications so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

"In Nebraska we have over 330 pharmacies collecting unwanted medications from patients everyday," Mueting said.

You can drop off any unwanted prescription or over the counter medications to any participating pharmacy and they will be destroyed.

You don’t have to take medications back to the place you purchased them, but if possible you’re asked to bring them in their original containers so pharmacists can identify and properly dispose of them.

"We really don’t want people flushing medications. Unfortunately water treatment medications cannot remove medications and we don’t want those drugs to get into the water."

Bringing drugs back to pharmacies keeps them from getting in the water supply, which can be harmful to many people, especially young children and the elderly.

Since the program started two years ago over 66,000 pounds of pills have been returned to pharmacies across the state.

If you would like to drop off medications you can find the one closest to you by visiting www.nebraskameds.org and typing in your zip code.