Antelope County To Offer Prescription Drug Disposal Oct 22

On October 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. TO 2 P.M. the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center 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 Law Enforcement Center at 1102 L St, Neligh, Neb. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last May Americans turned in 893,498 pounds - 447 tons - of drugs at nearly 5,400 sites. 5,292 pounds came from Nebraskans.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. The majority of prescription drug abusers report in surveys that they get their drugs from friends and family.  Americans understand that cleaning out old prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers, and bedside tables reduces accidents, thefts, and the misuse and abuse of these medicines, including opioid painkillers that accounted for 20,808 drug overdoses - 78 a day - in 2014.  Eight out of 10 new heroin users began by abusing prescription painkillers and moved to heroin when they could no longer obtain or afford those painkillers.

There is also a box located in the lobby at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center that allows anyone to drop off meds at other times as well.  Again, the service is free and anonymous.  Anyone with questions may call the Antelope Co Law Enforcement Center at 402-887-4148.