The best way to dispose of old prescriptions is through a drug take-back program. These programs let you drop off your unused pills at special locations like pharmacies or police stations. If you can’t find a drop-off spot, you can mail them back using special envelopes or throw them in your trash at home (but only after mixing them with something gross like coffee grounds).
This guide will show you exactly how to get rid of your old medicines safely. You’ll learn about drop-off locations, mail-back programs, and when it’s okay to flush certain dangerous pills down the toilet.
Why You Need to Dispose of Old Prescriptions Properly
Getting rid of old medicines the right way keeps everyone safe. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, about 62% of teenagers get prescription drugs to abuse from their parents’ medicine cabinets. That’s scary! Plus, kids and pets can accidentally eat pills they find lying around.
Here’s what happens when you don’t dispose of medicines properly:
- Kids might think they’re candy and eat them
- Teens might steal them to get high
- Pets could get poisoned
- The environment gets polluted if you flush the wrong pills
Since 2010, Americans have turned in more than 19.8 million pounds of unused medicines during take-back events according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. That’s a lot of pills that could have ended up in the wrong hands!
Drug Take-Back Programs: Your Best Option
Drug take-back programs are the safest way to get rid of old prescriptions. Think of them like recycling centers for medicines. You bring your pills, and they destroy them safely.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
The DEA hosts National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day twice a year in April and October. During these events, you can drop off medicines at temporary locations in your community.
At the last take-back event in 2024, 4,607 sites across the nation collected 670,136 pounds (335 tons) of unwanted medicines. That’s like throwing away 150 cars worth of pills!
Year-Round Drop-Off Locations
You don’t have to wait for special events. Many places accept medicines all year long:
- Pharmacies (like CVS, Walgreens, and your local pharmacy)
- Police stations
- Hospitals
- Some grocery stores
Walgreens has disposal kiosks at almost 1,500 locations, and CVS has collected more than 1 million pounds of medicines since 2014.
How to Use Drop-Off Locations
Using a drop-off location is super easy:
- Gather all your old medicines
- Leave them in their original bottles (but you can remove the labels for privacy)
- Drop them in the collection box
- Walk away – no questions asked!
Don’t worry about removing pills from bottles or sorting them. Just toss the whole bottle in the box.
Mail-Back Programs: Convenient Home Disposal
Can’t get to a drop-off location? Mail-back programs let you send your old medicines through the mail. It’s like having a take-back program delivered to your door.
How Mail-Back Programs Work
You can buy prepaid mail-back envelopes from many pharmacies or online. Some pharmacies even give them away for free. Here’s how to use them:
- Put your medicines in the envelope
- Seal it up tight
- Drop it in any mailbox or take it to the post office
- The postal service handles the rest
Where to Get Mail-Back Envelopes
Ask your pharmacist if they have mail-back envelopes. Many pharmacies keep them behind the counter and give them out for free.
Safe Home Disposal: When Other Options Aren’t Available
Sometimes you can’t get to a drop-off location or find a mail-back envelope. In that case, you can safely throw most medicines in your home trash – but you need to do it the right way.
Step-by-Step Home Disposal
Follow these steps to dispose of medicines in your trash:
- Remove pills from bottles – Take them out of their original containers
- Mix with something gross – Add coffee grounds, cat litter, or dirt
- Put in a sealed bag – Use a plastic bag or container with a lid
- Throw in regular trash – Add it to your household garbage
- Remove personal info – Scratch out your name and address on empty bottles
Why Mix Pills with Gross Stuff?
Mixing pills with coffee grounds or cat litter makes them less appealing to kids and pets. It also makes them harder to recognize if someone goes digging through your trash looking for drugs.
Important: Never crush pills before throwing them away. Just leave them whole and mix with the gross stuff.
The FDA Flush List: When to Flush Medicines
Most medicines should never be flushed down the toilet. But some are so dangerous that flushing is safer than throwing them in the trash. The FDA Flush List includes only 13 active ingredients (10 of which are opioids) that can be deadly in small amounts.
What’s on the Flush List?
The flush list includes powerful pain medicines like:
- Fentanyl patches
- Oxycodone
- Morphine
- Other strong opioids
These medicines can cause death from just one dose if taken by the wrong person.
When to Flush vs. When Not to Flush
Only flush if:
- Your medicine is on the official FDA flush list
- You can’t get to a take-back location
- You don’t have a mail-back envelope
Never flush:
- Regular pills like antibiotics or vitamins
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Any medicine not on the flush list
The main way drug residues enter water systems is through people’s bodies after taking medicines, not from flushing. The FDA has found no environmental harm from flushing the few medicines on their list.
Special Disposal Instructions for Different Types of Medicines
Not all medicines are the same. Some need special handling when you throw them away.
Inhalers and Aerosol Products
Inhalers can be dangerous if they get punctured. Contact your trash and recycling facility to learn about proper disposal since some areas have special rules for aerosol products.
Patches (Like Fentanyl Patches)
Even after a patch is used, a lot of medicine remains in it. Most patches should be flushed down the toilet because they’re so dangerous.
Liquid Medicines
When using drop-off locations, keep liquid medicines in their original containers with the caps on tight. For home disposal, mix liquids with absorbent materials like cat litter.
Needles and Syringes
Never put needles in regular trash or drop-off boxes. Use special “sharps containers” that you can buy at pharmacies. Many communities have special disposal programs for needles.
What NOT to Do When Disposing of Medicines
Avoid these common mistakes that can put people at risk:
Don’t Flush Most Medicines
Only flush medicines that are on the official FDA flush list. Everything else should go to a take-back location or in the trash (after mixing with gross stuff).
Don’t Give Medicines to Friends
Even if your friend has the same condition, don’t share prescription medicines. Each person’s treatment is different, and what works for you might hurt someone else.
Don’t Keep Medicines “Just in Case”
Old antibiotics won’t help your next infection. In fact, they might make it worse. Get rid of medicines as soon as you’re done with them.
Don’t Leave Medicines in Your Car
Hot cars can make medicines dangerous. Heat breaks down the active ingredients and can create harmful chemicals.
Finding Disposal Locations Near You
Finding a place to dispose of your medicines is easier than you think. Here are the best ways to locate drop-off spots:
Online Search Tools
- Google Maps: Search for “medication disposal near me”
- DEA website: Use their official locator tool
- Your pharmacy’s website: Many chains list their drop-off locations
Call Your Local Pharmacy
Your local pharmacist can tell you about disposal options in your area. They might have a drop-off box right in their store or know where the nearest one is located.
Community Resources
- Police stations often have drop-off boxes
- Hospitals sometimes accept medicines
- Some fire departments participate in take-back programs
The Impact of Proper Disposal
When you dispose of medicines properly, you’re making a real difference. Here’s why it matters:
Protecting Your Family
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 35% of teens think prescription drugs are safer to abuse than illegal drugs. By keeping unused medicines out of your home, you protect your family from accidental poisoning and drug abuse.
Helping Your Community
Every pound of medicine you dispose of properly is a pound that won’t end up in the wrong hands. Your actions help reduce prescription drug abuse in your community.
Protecting the Environment
Proper disposal keeps harmful chemicals out of our water supply and soil. While flushing a few specific medicines is okay, throwing most medicines in the trash (when prepared correctly) is better for the environment.
Creating a Medicine Management Plan
The best way to handle medicine disposal is to have a plan before you need it. Here’s how to stay on top of your medicine cabinet:
Regular Medicine Cabinet Cleanouts
Check your medicine cabinet every few months. Look for:
- Expired medicines
- Medicines you no longer take
- Medicines that have changed color or smell
- Bottles with just a few pills left
Keep Track of What You Have
Write down when you start and stop taking medicines. This helps you remember what needs to be thrown away and when.
Talk to Your Pharmacist
Your pharmacist can help you understand how long to keep different medicines and when to throw them away.
Teaching Kids About Medicine Safety
Part of safe medicine disposal is teaching kids why it’s important. Here’s how to talk to children about medicine safety:
Age-Appropriate Conversations
- Young kids: Explain that medicines are not candy and should only be taken by grown-ups
- Teens: Discuss the real dangers of prescription drug abuse
- All ages: Show them how to properly dispose of medicines
Make It a Family Activity
Include kids when you clean out your medicine cabinet. Show them how to mix medicines with coffee grounds and put them in sealed bags. This teaches them the right way to handle medicines.
Common Questions About Medicine Disposal
Can I Donate Unused Medicines?
No, you cannot donate prescription medicines to charities or other people. Even if the medicine is expensive and you barely used it, it’s not safe to give to others.
What About Vitamins and Supplements?
Vitamins and supplements should be disposed of the same way as prescription medicines. Take them to a drop-off location or throw them in the trash after mixing with something undesirable.
Do I Need to Remove Labels?
For privacy, you can remove labels from prescription bottles before disposal. Scratch out your personal information to protect your identity.
What If I Live in an Apartment?
Apartment dwellers can use the same disposal methods as house owners. Your apartment’s trash goes to the same place as everyone else’s, so home disposal works the same way.
The Role of Pharmacies in Medicine Disposal
Pharmacies play a huge role in helping people dispose of medicines safely. Many pharmacies offer multiple disposal options:
In-Store Drop-Off Boxes
Most major pharmacy chains have secure drop-off boxes where you can leave unwanted medicines any time during pharmacy hours.
Mail-Back Programs
Some pharmacies provide free mail-back envelopes, especially for patients who are prescribed opioid pain medicines.
Education and Advice
Your pharmacist can answer questions about disposal and help you understand which methods are best for your specific medicines.
Community Programs and Resources
Many communities have programs to help residents dispose of medicines safely:
Local Health Departments
Contact your local health department to learn about disposal programs in your area. They often coordinate with law enforcement and pharmacies.
Environmental Programs
Some cities include medicine disposal as part of their environmental protection programs, especially to keep drugs out of the water supply.
School Programs
Schools sometimes host medicine disposal events as part of drug prevention programs. These are great opportunities to clean out your medicine cabinet while teaching kids about safety.
Final Thoughts
Disposing of old prescriptions properly is one of the easiest ways to keep your family and community safe. The best method is always a drug take-back program – either at a drop-off location or through a mail-back envelope. When those aren’t available, you can safely throw most medicines in your home trash after mixing them with something gross like coffee grounds.
Remember, about 62% of teenagers who abuse prescription drugs get them from their parents’ medicine cabinets. By cleaning out your medicine cabinet regularly and disposing of unused medicines properly, you’re doing your part to prevent prescription drug abuse.
Don’t wait until spring cleaning to deal with your old medicines. Make it a habit to check your medicine cabinet every few months and get rid of anything you don’t need. Your family, your community, and the environment will thank you.
If you need help with medication management or have questions about disposal, your local pharmacist is always ready to help. They can provide disposal envelopes, point you to drop-off locations, and answer any questions about keeping your medicines safe and effective.