National Drug Take Back Day to be held this Saturday

COLUMBUS, Neb. -- Law enforcement agencies across the country are taking part in an event this Saturday to allow people to safely dispose of their prescription medications.

This Saturday is the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Law enforcement agencies will either have a disposal box out at their offices or will be at a select location for people to drop off their medications.

The Columbus Police Department is one of several agencies in Nebraska participating in the event.

"It allows for the community and people who have all these medications that they don't know what to do with, instead of flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash where they can get into the environment, we dispose of them by incinerating them," said captain Douglas Molcyzk of the Columbus Police Department.

According to getsmartaboutdrugs.gov, the take back day in October of 2021 brought in 372 tons of medication.

The DEA started the event in 2010 and has since brought 15.2 million pounds of medication.

The CPD will be holding their take back at Walgreens this Saturday between 10 am and 2 pm.

They will take any kind of medication except syringes.