DEA Seizes 32,713 Pounds of Prescription Drugs, Midwest Take Back, …

More than 32,000 pounds of potentially lethal prescription drugs flooded out of medicine cabinets and into federal custody during the DEA’s spring Take Back Day, a grim reminder of the silent epidemic festering in homes across the Midwest. On April 27, the DEA Omaha Division hauled away 32,713 pounds of unwanted medication across Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Illinois and Wisconsin—part of a national seizure totaling nearly 469 tons.

In South Dakota alone, 1,634 pounds of dangerous drugs were surrendered at 25 collection sites, assisted by 24 local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies. These weren’t expired vitamins or benign supplements—these were opioids, stimulants, sedatives, and other controlled substances capable of fueling addiction, overdose, and street-level trafficking if left unsecured.

“Take Back Day is more than a disposal event—it’s damage control,” said William Stockmann, Diversion Program Manager for the DEA Omaha Division. “Every pill turned in is one less pill available for misuse by a teenager in the bathroom cabinet or a neighbor borrowing ‘just one’ after surgery.” The event marked the 17th national initiative of its kind, with 6,398 sites operating under more than 5,000 law enforcement partners nationwide.

The scale of the seizure exposes a deeper rot: prescription drugs remain a gateway to addiction, often starting with legal prescriptions and ending in dependency, theft, or worse. These medications, when diverted, feed black markets and overdose statistics. The DEA’s effort isn’t just about clean-up—it’s about choking off supply at the source, one pill bottle at a time.

For those who missed the April 27 event, the DEA urges the public to use year-round drop-off locations. A full list is available at the DEA’s public disposal search site. When no secure bin is accessible, the agency advises mixing meds with coffee grounds or kitty litter, sealing them in a bag, and trashing them—making them unpalatable and unrecognizable to scavengers.

The next national push is set for Saturday, October 26. Until then, the message is clear: every home is a potential stash house. And every unused pill left lying around is a crime waiting to happen.