Community Connections host monthly prescription drug take back collection

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - Inside Bomgaars, a store in North Platte, a local non-profit sets up shop in the front on the third Saturday of each month. Community Connections focuses on improving the lives of the community’s youth.

Volunteer Sandee Kronn underscores the vital role of the community in the success of the monthly prescription drug take-back collection. It’s not just a collection but a community effort.

Community members’ active participation makes this event a success, empowering each individual to take responsibility for the safe disposal of medications and ensuring the safety of youth.

“The purpose is to try and get drugs out of the hands of youth,” Kroon said. “And a lot of times people get a lot of prescriptions they don’t always completely use them all, and they shove them in the cabinet, and this way they’re not at your home. You’ve gotten rid of them, and we’re safely disposing of them.”

Kroon said it’s essential to dispose of drugs properly so they don’t end up in the trash or the toilet, affecting the water supply.

The local law enforcement volunteers on a rotating schedule to help assist Community Connections with their prescription take-back collection.

Kroon explains what happens to the medications once they leave the donors hands.

“We recycle the caps on the bottles,” Kroon said. “We black out the patient’s name, and we recycle any cardboard or paper that comes with them, like doctors’ samples. Everything here will go to the state patrol and be incinerated.

Community connections accept all pills, prescription or not, cough syrups, and inhalers. They do not take items such as needles or syringes. To learn more about Community Connections click here.

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