Drug Take Back

The Gage County Sheriff’s Office is taking over a local campaign to collect unused and expired prescription drugs.

The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency is no longer providing the funding to continue National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The National Drug Take-Back Program was started in 2010 by the DEA with the aim at reducing the number of unused prescription drugs on the street and giving people the opportunity to get rid of their unused/unwanted prescription medication in a safe manner. Remember, it is not safe to just throw medication in the trash or flush the medication down the toilet. By doing this, the medication can still get into the water supply.

It has been proven that many kids begin their drug use not on the street but in their own home out of the medicine cabinet. By giving people the opportunity to have a safe place to discard their unused and unwanted prescription drugs, this reduces the amount of prescription drugs abusers have access to. Our office has worked many burglaries which has indicated the suspect(s) were looking strictly for prescription medication.  

Since beginning the program, the amount of people participating in the program has grown each year and we hope the numbers continue to grow again this year. The Gage County Sheriff’s Office will continue the program and plans to host a drug take-back day May 2, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Gage County Sheriff’s Office at 612 Lincoln Street in Beatrice. Anyone wishing to drop off their medication can drive up to the east side of the Sheriff’s Office and a Sheriff’s Deputy will gather the medication from you there. We try to make it as easy as possible and by doing it this way, people do not even have to get out of their vehicles if they do not wish to. Anyone dropping off medication will remain anonymous and no questions will be asked. The Gage County M.A.P.S Program will fund the cost of the program this year. Deines Pharmacy has also volunteered to assist with the disposal of the prescription drugs gathered on this day.

Anyone with any questions regarding the program can contact Sergeant Schley at (402) 223-5222 EXT. 209. Please leave your name and number and he will call you back as soon as the message is received. You can also email him at bs9035@gcsone.us. We want to thank everyone in advance who plans on participating.

Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson #903

Sergeant Brandon Schley #9035