Safe Prescription Disposal Resources for Patients
The next Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be October 29, 2022! 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.
ISMS Resources:
- 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
- Food and Drug Administration – Disposal of Unused Medicines