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How to Safely Dispose of Your Old Medications

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Oct 24, 2023.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, Oct 28, 2023 - 10AM to 2PM local time, communities will team up with law enforcement to host the next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts a no-questions asked National Prescription Drug Take-Back event twice per year. On this day, collection sites are set up in local cities throughout the nation for safe disposal of prescription drugs, including opioids. Collection sites may be found at retail, hospital, or clinic pharmacies, or law enforcement facilities.

Drug overdoses skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 106,000 drug overdose deaths were reported in the 12 month period ending May 2023, compared to 69,000 deaths in the 12 months ending October 2019. Disposing of unneeded or expired medications can help to fight this crisis, as many abused prescription drugs are found in the home.

Opioids, including synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl, were responsible for many of these deaths. In fact, opioids are a factor in 7 out of every 10 overdose deaths.

The DEA wants to ensure the public that there are safe ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs, including at-home disposal and year-round collection sites.

What is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day?

Opioid abuse in the U.S. remains a top public health concern. The DEA’s “Take-Back” initiative is one of several strategies to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion in the nation.

During Take-Back Days collection sites are set up in local cities throughout the nation for safe disposal of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs you have at home, including opioids. Other items accepted usually include pet medicines and OTC vitamins. Take Back Days occur each year in October and April.

Consumers should dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines as quickly as possible to help reduce accidental or intentional overdoses or illegal abuse.

DEA began hosting National Prescription Drug Take-Back events in 2010. At the last Take-Back Day in April 2023, almost 5,000 sites across the nation collected unwanted or expired medications totaling 663,725 pounds (332 tons). The total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 is over 17.3 million pounds (8,650 tons).

Which items are NOT accepted?

Check with the collector ahead of time to determine what items are not accepted. Certain items generally are not accepted at the drop box, such as:

DEA will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers only after the batteries are removed from the devices.

Check with your local city or county hazardous waste recycling centers for disposal of items such as mercury or iodine-containing products. Your pharmacy may accept asthma inhalers for recycling.

Can I throw medicine in the trash?

Follow your healthcare provider's instructions specifically for disposing of medicines if these were provided.

Be aware that some medicines should only be flushed when drop off facilities are not available because they are too dangerous to leave in the trash. See the list of drugs that SHOULD be flushed here. Be sure to follow your local community regulations for flushing of medications.

Many medications can be thrown in the trash but you should follow the below steps before disposing of them. Medicines include prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, and creams. Look at the package insert of your medication to see if special instructions exist for disposal.

Inhalers for asthma or other breathing conditions could be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator. To properly dispose of these products and follow local regulations and laws, contact your trash and recycling facility.

If no DEA-authorized collection sites are available, and no Take Back Days are scheduled in your area, you can follow these steps to dispose of most medicines in the household trash:

  1. Mix medicines with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, used coffee grounds, or kitty litter. Take them out of their original container first. Do not crush tablets or capsules before mixing.
  2. Place the mixture in a sealed container (sealed plastic bag or empty can) to prevent the drug from leaking into the garbage.
  3. Throw the container in the trash.
  4. When disposing of empty prescription bottles or packages, be sure to mark out identifying personal information to make it unreadable.

Can I flush medicines down the toilet?

Some medications should be flushed down the toilet when Take Back Day or permanent Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations are not accessible because even one accidental dose could be fatal. These medications may be especially harmful or fatal to children and pets. They are also sought after by people who are looking to abuse or sell these potent, and possibly deadly, medicines.

You can access the FDA list of medications that should be flushed down the toilet at this link. One example is the fentanyl skin patch. The patch delivers strong pain medicine through the skin. After the patch is used it still contains a lot of powerful medicine that could be deadly. That’s why the drug comes with instructions to flush used or leftover patches.

Does flushing medications down the toilet pose a risk to the environment?

FDA has stated that disposal of these select few medicines by flushing down the toilet would only contribute to a small fraction of the total amount of medicine found in surface and drinking water. FDA environmental authorities state most medicines in water are a result of elimination via the body from urine or feces. The FDA and EPA state there has been no indication of environmental effects due to flushing medications.

FDA also states that based on available data, the risk to humans from accidental exposure to these potent medications far outweighs the environmental risk.

Other points for safe drug disposal

See also

Sources

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.