Illinois State Medical Society

Safe Prescription Disposal Resources for Patients

The next Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be April 25, 2020! Find a participating location near you.

The nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic proves that addiction, overdose or both can be as close as the medicine cabinet of a family member or friend.

After all, one third of all U.S. prescriptions go unused each year.

ISMS offers these resources for physicians and their practice teams to share with patients so unused prescription and over-the-counter medications can be disposed of safely:

Where Can Patients Take Unused Medications?

Government and nonprofit organizations provide online tools for identifying disposal locations anywhere in the country. Share these links with patients after you discuss any unused medications they have or if they request disposal options.

Drug Enforcement Administration (link may not work with older operating systems and/or browsers)
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
National Community Pharmacists Association

Illinois State Police headquarters in Des Plaines, Elgin, Joliet, Collinsville, and LaSalle accept medications for disposal.

Download This ISMS Take-Back Promotion Kit for Your Office:

Office poster promoting safe disposal

Printable pocket cards (for best results print to both sides and cut to size)
Issue Brief for physicians on disposal of unused medications

Other Resources:

Cook County MEDS Disposal Initiative offers information on how to properly dispose of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medication.
ISMS Office Poster Promoting Naloxone Availability Without Prescription
Drug Enforcement Administration – Office of Diversion Control
Drug Enforcement Administration – Drug Disposal Information
Code of Federal Regulations for Controlled Substances
Food and Drug Administration – Disposal of Unused Medicines