Two Rivers Public Health Department, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
ELWOOD — The Two Rivers Public Health Department collected over 5,000 medications during a take back event that was hosted at the Gosper County Senior Center in Elwood.
Two Rivers Public Health Department (TRPHD) periodically hosts take back events to help safely dispose of out-of-date or unneeded medications.
On Monday, Feb. 16, TRPHD collected 5,280 prescriptions and over the counter medications for safe disposal at the Gosper County Senior Center. Joshua Richie, Gosper County Sheriff, helped with the event.
“Medicine take-back options are the best ways to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription and nonprescription (for example, over-the-counter) medicines,” per the Food and Drug Administration.
“Before disposing of prescription medicines, be sure to scratch out all personal information on pill bottle labels and medicine packaging. All of your medicines dropped off at the take-back locations will be destroyed,” per the FDA.
More than 100,000 Americans die every year to a drug poisoning or overdose death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Clearing out medicine cabinets helps to prevent drug misuse before it starts.
