Medication Take-back Box in Outpatient Pharmacies

Nebraska Medicine’s three outpatient pharmacies are pleased to offer a drop-off site for unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications.  Any medication, including controlled substances and those in liquid form, can be dropped into the box. It’s a service to our patients, colleagues, and students to provide a way to properly and safely dispose of medications.

Unused medications left in the house can be abused by family members creating an unnecessary risk. Medications not properly disposed of are often trashed or flushed, both having negative effects on the environment, animals, and people downstream.

“We receive a lot of questions about what to do with medications that are no longer needed,” says Maria Kellison, pharmacy support manager. “Patients are often left with unused medications due to changes in medications or dosages. Now, they can safely dispose of unused medications at our outpatient pharmacies.”

This service started in April, and the response has been impressive. Kellison says since the program started, the three sites have collected just over 126 gallons of medication.

“We were surprised by the tremendous volume of medications dropped off at our sites,” says Kellison. “It became obvious there was clearly an unmet need for proper medication disposal for not just our patients, but our colleagues as well. We have been able to facilitate the safe disposal of 126 gallons of medications that may have inadvertently harmed people and the environment.”

The blue, steel, “Medsafe” lockboxes are easily accessible in the waiting areas of the Outpatient Pharmacy in the DOC, Bellevue and also at the University Health Center in Lincoln.

The service is offered every day during pharmacy business hours to employees, students, and patients.

If you have questions, contact Kellison at mkellison@nebraskamed.com or 402-559-3469.