Spring cleaning is a great time to clear out unused medications sitting in the medicine cabinet. To safely dispose unused, expired, or unwanted medications, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is sponsoring its 26th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event is Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Old or unused prescription medications can be dangerous, even deadly, when they land in the wrong hands. Keep your home safe by removing all unneeded medications. Disposing of medications by flushing them down the toilet or tossing them in the trash poses hazards to the environment.
Consumers can safely dispose medications throughout California and the United States by dropping off medications at participating local agencies; click here for the collection site locator. Disposal sites will accept prescription medications in pill or patch forms, including controlled substances, but no liquids, sharps or needles.
Personal information should be blocked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from bottles into bins provided at the collection sites. The service is free and anonymous.
If you miss National Drug Take Back Day, prescriptions can be dropped off all year long at California pharmacies. Pharmacies offer two types of drug take back services; on-site collection bins and/or envelopes for mailing back medications.
The California State Board of Pharmacy has a list of pharmacy drug collection bins throughout the state. Click here to find a nearby location.
Auto-injectors such as EpiPens and other sharps and needles are not accepted; check the California Department of Public Health for a list of sites that accept home-generated sharps.
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