Medication Disposal Locations

National Drug Take Back Day

Twice a year, once in April and once in October, the DEA holds National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event provides a safe, convenient, and responsible way for people to dispose of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential dangers of misused medication. Call your local sheriff’s office or police department for dates and times of upcoming National Drug Take Back Days.

Disposing of Leftover Medication at Home

Responsibly disposing of leftover medication keeps everyone in your home safe from accidentally or intentionally ingesting, misusing, or abusing potentially harmful substances. The best way to dispose of unused or expired medications is to find a drug take-back location in your community. If a drug take-back location is not available, you may flush medication that is on the FDA flush list down the toilet or the sink or dispose of medication not on the flush list in the trash, according to the guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration. 

Follow these steps before trashing medication that is not on the flush list at home:

• Mix liquid or pills (do not crush tablets or capsules) with dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds to make them less appealing
• Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag
• Before throwing away the empty medicine bottles or packaging, black out all personal information on the prescription labels
• Throw away the bottles or packaging in your trash at home

Proper disposal of unused prescription opioids can save lives.