The misuse of prescription drugs remains a global issue. Many of these misused medications may be sitting in your very own medicine cabinet, increasing the risk of misuse, or improper disposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has hopes of preventing this by hosting its 30th National Prescription Drug Takeback Day on Saturday, April 25, a nationwide effort to safely dispose of highly addictive medications, including Opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine. Omaha authorities are encouraging the community to participate at various locations around the city.
There are many important reasons to properly dispose of unwanted prescription medications. When medications expire, they can lose effectiveness or even become harmful. Beyond that, keeping unused medications in your home can pose additional risks. Items like needles or leftover prescriptions can easily end up in the wrong hands, including children or pets.
“It is very important to treat all prescription drugs with caution,” said Adam Schulte, PharmD, NHN Medicare programs manager. “It is also a good idea to wear disposable gloves when handling any unknown medication.”
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 3.8 million people misuse prescription drugs every year. In 2025, 1.5 million people misused prescription pain relievers for the first time. That made up for 19% of misusers. According to the NCDA, prescription abuse refers to the following.
- Taking medicine that was prescribed for someone else
- Taking more medication than you were instructed to
- Taking the medication in a different way than you were supposed to, like snorting it
- Using medicine for non-medicinal purposes, like getting high
So, what should you do? The safest option is to take unused medications to a drug take-back site for proper disposal. However, the FDA advises that certain medications such as fentanyl, buprenorphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone may be safely flushed. You can view the FDA’s full flush list here.
If the medication is not on the flush list and you’re unable to access a drug take-back location, the FDA recommends disposing of it in the trash by:
- Removing the medication from the original container.
- Mix medicine with an unappealing substance like used coffee grounds or cat litter.
- Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag or container.
- Throw away that container in your trash at home.
- Make sure to scratch out personal information on the label.
- Trash or recycle the medicine bottle.
Prescription Drug Takeback Day happens twice a year nationwide at around 4,200 locations. This includes 130 sites across the DEA Omaha Field Division in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Since this day was initiated in 2010, the DEA Omaha Field Division has collected over 706,000 pounds of medication and nationally, the DEA has removed more than 20 million pounds.
“If you have leftover medication after completing a therapy or dose change, prompt disposal is key to keeping you and your loved ones safe," Dr. Schulte said. “There are a few good options for disposal, and if you are ever in doubt, you can always talk to your pharmacist for advice.”
Local police will be stationed around the area to assist with drop-offs. A few drop-off locations in the Omaha and Iowa area include the Council Bluffs Police Department stationed at Walgreens (535 E. Broadway), the Nebraska State Patrol stationed at Hy-Vee (9707 Q St.), the Ralston Police Department stationed at Walgreens (84th and Harrison), and the Bellevue Police Department (1510 Wall St.), which will host a drop-off site. To view a full list of locations near you, visit the DEA’s website.
If you’re unable to dispose of unwanted medications during the event on Saturday the 25th, many pharmacies in the Omaha area offer safe, year-round disposal options. Several Walgreens locations participate, including those at 50th and Center, 132nd and Center, and 90th and Blondo. Additional options for safe prescription disposal year-round include medication take-back boxes at Methodist Hospital (8303 Dodge St.), Nebraska Medicine’s Bellevue Medical Center pharmacy (2510 Bellevue Medical Center Dr) and the Durham Outpatient Center (4400 Emilee St.)
