Safe Disposal of Medicines: A Beginner-Friendly Start
Safe Disposal of Medicines: the few things that matter most, and the mistakes that catch people out early.
How to get rid of unused or expired medicines so they cannot be misused or harm children, pets or the environment.
Key takeaways
- Best option: drug take-back sites, kiosks or events
- Where to find them: many pharmacies and police stations have year-round take-back kiosks
- Most useful single change: Clean out your medicine cabinet at least once a year.
- Commonest mistake: Flushing medicines that are not on the FDA flush list.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Why bother
Leftover prescription opioids in home medicine cabinets are a common source of misuse and accidental poisoning.
Start here
Two to start. There is no prize for doing all of it in week one.
- Clean out your medicine cabinet at least once a year
- Ask your pharmacy whether it has a disposal kiosk or mail-back envelopes
Then add these
Once the first two are automatic, these are worth adding.
- Scratch out personal information on labels before throwing bottles away
- Lock up opioids and other high-risk medicines until you can dispose of them
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Best option | drug take-back sites, kiosks or events |
| Where to find them | many pharmacies and police stations have year-round take-back kiosks |
| Household trash method | mix medicines with something unappealing such as used coffee grounds or cat litter, seal in a bag, and throw away |
| Flush list | FDA lists certain medicines, such as some opioids, to flush if take-back is not available |
| Fentanyl patches | fold the sticky sides together before flushing |
Common early mistakes
- Flushing medicines that are not on the FDA flush list
- Keeping leftover opioids "just in case"
- Giving leftover medicines to friends or family
Related topics
- Storing Medicines: What Published Guidance Supports (Medicines Safety)
- The Evidence on Pesticides at Home, Without the Hype (Environmental Health)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Poisoning Prevention at Home (Injury Prevention)
- What the Guidance Really Says About Meal Planning (Nutrition)
Where to go next
- Safe Disposal of Medicines: What to Do, in Order
- Safe Disposal of Medicines: Common Myths and What Guidelines Say
- Safe Disposal of Medicines — the reference entry
- Substance Use: The Complete Guide
- What the Guidance Really Says About Opioid Overdose and Naloxone
- Fentanyl Risks: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if a child or adult swallows a medicine by mistake, even if they seem fine. Call 911 if they are hard to wake, have trouble breathing or have a seizure.
Where this comes from
- FDA — Where and How to Dispose of Unused Medicines
- FDA — Drug Disposal: FDA's Flush List for Certain Medicines
- EPA — Collecting and Disposing of Unwanted Medicines
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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