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  4. Information for Consumers and Patients | Drugs
  5. Buying & Using Medicine Safely
  6. Safe Disposal of Medicines
  7. Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know
  8. Drug Disposal: Drug Take-Back Options
  1. Disposal of Unused Medicines: What You Should Know

Drug Disposal: Drug Take-Back Options

The best way to safely dispose of most types* of unused or expired medicine

Medicine take-back options are the best ways to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription and nonprescription (for example, over-the-counter) medicines.

Drug drop off box with term "Safe Mediation Disposal" printed on it

Before disposing of prescription medicines, be sure to scratch out all personal information on pill bottle labels and medicine packaging. All of your medicines dropped off at the take-back locations will be destroyed.

There are generally several kinds of take-back options:

1. Periodic drug take-back events

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) periodically hosts National Prescription Drug Take-back events. During these Drug Take-Back Days, temporary drug take-back locations are set up in communities nationwide for safe disposal of prescription drugs.

Local law enforcement agencies may also sponsor medicine take-back events in your community. You can also contact your local waste management authorities to learn about events in your area.

2. Drug Take-Back Locations

Some facilities and businesses are registered with the DEA to collect your unused or expired medicines. These drug take-back locations safely and securely gather and dispose of your unused or expired medicines, including those that contain controlled substances. In your community, authorized drug take-back locations may be retail, hospital, or clinic pharmacies, and law enforcement facilities. These drug take-back locations may offer on-site medicine kiosks or drop-off boxes; mail back programs; or other in-home disposal methods to assist you in safely disposing of your unused or expired medicines.

Find an authorized drug take-back location near you:

  • Google Maps link (mobile-friendly) or go to Google Maps and type in "drug disposal near me" or "medication disposal near me" to find your nearest drug disposal location.
  • Year-Round Drop-Off Locations search
  • Call the DEA Diversion Control Division Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539 for more information about these drug take-back locations.

3. Prepaid Drug Mail-Back Envelopes

Drug mail-back envelopes are available to purchase from multiple places including some retail pharmacies or online websites. You can also check with your pharmacist to see if they offer drug mail-back envelopes. Some pharmacies may offer them at no cost as a convenient way to safely dispose of your unused or expired medicines.

How to Use Pre-Paid Drug Mail-Back Envelopes

  1. Fill the envelope with your unused or expired medicines.
  2. Seal the envelope.
  3. Mail the envelope using the U.S. Postal Service.

*Check out the Medication Disposal Q&A for more information including how to dispose of needles and syringes. Some products with uncommon dosage forms (e.g., sprays, lozenges) have product-specific disposal instructions. Review the instructions that came with your prescription or contact your health care professional (e.g., pharmacist, doctor) to find out how to properly dispose of these medicines.

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