Drug incineration program approved

Nebraska pharmacies can participate in a nationwide drug disposal program under a bill given final approval March 4.

Currently, state law allows unused prescription drugs to be returned to the dispensing pharmacy for immediate disposal.

LB274, sponsored by Grand Island Sen. Mike Gloor, removes the words “dispensing pharmacy” and “immediate” from state law, allowing Nebraska to participate in a nationwide program that provides pharmacies secure containers to collect unused drugs regardless of where they were dispensed. Under the program, containers are shipped to a medical incinerator for disposal when full.

The bill allows pharmacies to charge a fee for drug disposal and changes the calculated expiration date for prescriptions from six months to one year.

The bill passed on a 47-0 vote.