Disposing of unused or expired medications is a simple but powerful step in preventing poisonings. Keeping leftover medications in your home can put children, pets and others at risk — especially anyone who may misuse prescription drugs.
Never keep prescription medications after you’ve finished treatment for an injury, illness or surgery. These medications were prescribed for a specific reason, dose and duration. Taking them later for a different reason — or sharing them with friends or family, even if symptoms seem similar — is unsafe and can be harmful.
Expired medications can lose effectiveness, and old prescriptions often are no longer part of your health care provider’s current treatment plan. Safe disposal helps protect your household and your community.
Medication Take-back Options
The safest way to dispose of medications is through a drug take-back program.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration hosts two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days each year. These events provide convenient, safe and anonymous disposal locations nationwide. Visit DEA.gov/TakeBackDay.gov to find dates and locations.
Year-round Take-back Locations
Several drop-off locations in Kentucky and Southern Indiana will take unwanted items any day of the year. To find a drop-off location near you, visit DEA.gov/Everyday-Takeback-Day. Visiting a take-back location ensures medications are disposed of safely and responsibly.
Safe Medication Disposal at Home
If you are unable to go to a take-back location, you can dispose of most medications safely at home:
- Remove pills or capsules from their original containers.
- Mix them with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or cat litter.
- Place the mixture in a sealable plastic bag or container.
- Throw it in your household trash.
Before discarding empty prescription bottles, remove or scratch out personal information on the label to protect your privacy.
When Flushing Is Recommended
Some medications can be extremely dangerous — even fatal — if taken accidentally or by someone for whom they were not prescribed. For certain high-risk medications, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends flushing them down the sink or toilet if a take-back option is not available.
Only flush medications that appear on the FDA’s official “flush list.”
View the list here.
Have Questions?
If you have questions about a specific medication or a possible poisoning, call the Kentucky Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222 or visit PoisonHelp.org for online assistance. Safe medication disposal is one more way to keep your family safe.