Yes, the best way to dispose of old prescriptions is through a drug take-back program. These programs let you safely drop off unused medicines at special locations. If you can’t find a take-back program near you, there are safe ways to throw away medicines at home too.
Getting rid of old medicines might seem simple, but doing it wrong can put your family and community at risk. This guide will show you the safest ways to dispose of your unused prescriptions and why it matters so much.
Why Proper Medicine Disposal Matters
Old medicines sitting in your home can be dangerous. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, about 62% of teenagers who misuse prescription drugs believe these medications are easy to find in their parents’ medicine cabinets. Even worse, 35% of teens think that prescription drugs are safer to abuse compared to illegal drugs, which is a dangerous mistake.
The Real Numbers Behind Medicine Misuse
The facts about prescription drug abuse are scary. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2021, about 14.3 million people reported misusing any prescription drug in the past 12 months. This includes:
- 8.7 million people who misused prescription pain relievers
- 4.9 million people who misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives
- 3.7 million people who misused prescription stimulants
The most tragic part? According to the CDC’s drug overdose data, in 2021, approximately 16,706 people died from an overdose involving prescription opioids. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with proper medicine disposal.
Where People Get Prescription Drugs to Misuse
About half of the people who reported misusing prescription drugs in 2015 received them from a friend or relative. This means the old bottles in your medicine cabinet could end up in the wrong hands.
The Best Way: Drug Take-Back Programs
The best way to dispose of most types of expired, unwanted or unused medicines is through a drug take-back program. These programs are run by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Days
The Drug Enforcement Administration hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year, typically in April and October. The next event is Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
These events are amazing. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and safely destroyed. At the last event in October 2024, DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications.
Year-Round Drop-Off Locations
You don’t have to wait for the big events. Nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country.
Where to Find Drop-Off Locations
Many pharmacies have special bins for medicine disposal:
- CVS Pharmacy: CVS Pharmacy partnered with local law enforcement agencies to remove more than 1 million pounds of unwanted and expired medications from U.S. households from 2014 through 2022.
- Walgreens: Almost 1,500 Walgreens pharmacies offer kiosks where you can bring your unwanted, unused or expired medication and drop it in.
- Local pharmacies like VillageRx in Glen Ellyn can help you find disposal options in your area
What You Can Bring to Drop-Off Locations
DEA and its partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers.
Most locations accept:
- Prescription medicines (both controlled and non-controlled)
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins and supplements
- Pet medicines
What they DON’T accept:
- Needles and sharps
- Illegal drugs
- Thermometers
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Chemotherapy drugs (these need special handling)
Mail-Back Programs: Another Safe Option
Drug mail-back envelopes are available to purchase from multiple places including some retail pharmacies or online websites. These programs let you mail your unused medicines to a safe disposal facility.
How Mail-Back Programs Work
- Get a special envelope from your pharmacy or online
- Put your unused medicines inside
- Seal the envelope
- Mail it using regular postal service
- The medicines get destroyed safely
Some pharmacies may offer them at no cost as a convenient way to safely dispose of your unused or expired medicines.
Safe Home Disposal Methods
If you can’t use a take-back program or mail-back service, you can safely dispose of most medicines at home. But there are important rules to follow.
The FDA Flush List
Because some medicines could be especially harmful to others, they have specific directions to immediately flush them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed, and a take-back option is not readily available. The FDA maintains a special flush list that shows which medicines should be flushed.
These medicines are so dangerous that it’s better to flush them than risk someone finding them in the trash. Flushing certain types of medicines, such as opioids, helps keep everyone safe by making sure these powerful drugs are not accidentally or intentionally swallowed, touched, or misused.
Important: Don’t flush any medicine unless it is on the Flush List. The FDA has a special list of medicines that should be flushed. For all other medicines, use the trash method below.
Throwing Medicines in the Trash
If you don’t have a drug take-back location nearby or a prepaid drug mail-back envelope and your medicine is not on the Flush List, you can dispose of it in the trash.
Here’s how to do it safely:
- Mix with something gross: Mix them with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds. This makes sure kids and pets won’t try to eat them.
- Don’t crush pills: Leave pills whole. Crushing them can make them dangerous to handle.
- Use a sealed container: Place the mixture in a sealed plastic bag before throwing it away.
- Remove personal information: Scratch out personal information from the prescription label on the empty packaging.
Special Disposal Methods for Different Types of Medicines
Inhalers and Aerosols
Inhalers need special care because they can be dangerous if they get too hot. Contact your trash and recycling facility: Read labels and follow local regulations and laws about properly disposing of inhalers or other aerosol products as these can be dangerous if punctured or thrown into a fire or incinerator.
Needles and Sharps
Sharps and needles can be placed in special sharps disposal containers, available from pharmacies or medical supply stores. Never put needles in regular trash because they can hurt sanitation workers.
If you don’t have a sharps container, you can use a thick container like a laundry detergent container or a metal can (like a coffee can) where the lid has been carefully secured and no needle can poke through.
Compounded Medicines
If you get custom compounded medicines, ask your pharmacist about the best way to dispose of them. Different compounds might need different disposal methods.
Why You Should Never Flush Most Medicines
There are concerns about the small levels of drugs that might be found in surface water, such as rivers and lakes, and in drinking water supplies. When you flush medicines, they can end up in our water systems.
The main way drug residues enter water systems is by people taking medicines and then naturally passing them through their bodies. While the FDA says there has been no sign of environmental effects caused by flushing recommended drugs, it’s still better to use take-back programs when possible.
How to Find Disposal Locations Near You
Online Search Tools
The easiest way to find disposal locations is online:
- Visit the DEA’s website at takebackday.dea.gov
- Use Google Maps and search “medication disposal near me”
- Check safe.pharmacy/drug-disposal for year-round locations
Local Resources
Your local pharmacy can help you find disposal options. If you live in the Glen Ellyn area, you can contact VillageRx for guidance on safe disposal methods.
Community Programs
Many communities have their own disposal programs. Check with your local law enforcement officials to find a location near you or with the DEA to find a DEA-authorized collector in your community.
What NOT to Do When Disposing of Medicines
Don’t Share Your Medicines
Never give your prescription medicines to friends or family, even if they have the same problem. This is illegal and dangerous.
Don’t Keep Expired Medicines
Old medicines can lose their strength or become harmful. Get rid of them as soon as they expire.
Don’t Flush Everything
Only flush medicines that are on the FDA’s special flush list. For everything else, use take-back programs or the trash method.
Don’t Leave Medicines Where Others Can Find Them
Medications can be harmful if they are kept where others can use them accidentally or on purpose. Always keep medicines in a safe place until you can dispose of them properly.
Creating a Medicine Disposal Plan
Regular Medicine Cabinet Clean-Outs
Make it a habit to clean out your medicine cabinet every six months. Look for:
- Expired medicines
- Medicines you no longer take
- Medicines that have changed color or smell
- Medicines from old health problems
Keep Track of Take-Back Events
The Drug Enforcement Administration hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year, typically in April and October. Mark these dates on your calendar and use them as reminders to clean out your medicine cabinet.
Talk to Your Pharmacist
Your pharmacist is a great resource for disposal advice. If you get medication therapy management services, ask about disposal options during your appointment.
Teaching Your Family About Medicine Safety
Talk to Your Kids
It’s important that our children learn about the use and abuse of prescription drugs. Teach them that:
- Medicine is not candy
- They should never take medicine that isn’t theirs
- They should tell an adult if they find loose pills
- Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs
Set a Good Example
Show your family that you take medicine safety seriously by:
- Properly disposing of old medicines
- Keeping medicines in a safe place
- Never sharing your prescriptions
- Following your doctor’s instructions exactly
The Role of Pharmacies in Safe Disposal
Pharmacy Disposal Programs
Many pharmacies now offer disposal services. Walgreens safe medication disposal kiosks are available during all regular pharmacy hours. These programs make it easy to dispose of medicines safely.
DisposeRx Packets
DisposeRx packets make it safe to throw medication in your home trash. The packets have a powder that you mix with water right in the medication bottle so that the medication becomes unusable and safe for the environment.
All CVS Pharmacy locations that do not currently have a safe medication disposal kiosk now offer DisposeRx packets at no cost to patients filling an opioid prescription for the first time.
How DisposeRx Works
- Add water to your medicine bottle
- Pour in the DisposeRx powder
- Shake the bottle
- The mixture turns into a gel that’s safe to throw away
- Throw the whole bottle in regular trash
The Impact of Proper Disposal
Preventing Overdoses
Proper medicine disposal saves lives. In 2021, approximately 16,706 people died from an overdose involving prescription opioids. Many of these deaths could have been prevented if unused medicines were properly disposed of.
Protecting the Environment
Using take-back programs instead of flushing medicines helps protect our water supply and environment.
Stopping Drug Abuse
About half of the people who reported misusing prescription drugs in 2015 received them from a friend or relative. By properly disposing of unused medicines, you’re helping stop the cycle of prescription drug abuse.
Emergency Situations
If Someone Takes the Wrong Medicine
If someone accidentally takes medicine that isn’t theirs, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Don’t wait to see if they feel sick.
If You Suspect Medicine Abuse
If you think someone in your family is abusing prescription drugs, get help immediately. Contact your doctor, a mental health professional, or call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Making Disposal Easy and Routine
Set Reminders
Use your phone or calendar to remind you to check your medicine cabinet every few months. Look for expired medicines or ones you no longer need.
Use Transition Times
Good times to clean out your medicine cabinet include:
- When you get a new prescription
- After a doctor’s visit
- During spring cleaning
- Before or after daylight saving time changes
Keep a Disposal Bag
Keep a small bag or box where you can put medicines that need to be disposed of. When the bag is full, take it to a disposal location.
Final Thoughts
Proper medicine disposal is one of the simplest ways to protect your family and community. The best method is always to use a drug take-back program, but if that’s not possible, you can safely dispose of most medicines at home by mixing them with something unpleasant and throwing them in the trash.
Remember, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country. You don’t have to wait for the twice-yearly take-back events.
Take action today. Check your medicine cabinet for old or unused medicines, and make a plan to dispose of them safely. Your local pharmacy, like VillageRx, can help you find the best disposal option for your area.
By taking these simple steps, you’re helping prevent prescription drug abuse, protecting the environment, and keeping your family safe. Every bottle you dispose of properly is one less chance for someone to accidentally or intentionally misuse prescription drugs.