Safe disposal options
Medications can be harmful if they are kept where others can use them accidentally or on purpose. Safely disposing of unwanted, unused, or expired medications is an important step in helping ensure medications you are no longer taking are not accidentally used or intentionally misused by someone else or improperly discarded . Proper disposal of medications is also environmentally safer.
Here are some safe disposal options:
DisposeRx packets
DisposeRx packets help make it safe to throw medication in your home trash. The packets have a powder that you mix with water right in the medication bottle so that the medication becomes unusable and safe for the environment. To get free DisposeRx packets for your unwanted, unused or expired medications, just ask at any Walgreens pharmacy. For additional information, visit DisposeRx.comOpens in a new tab.
Pre-Paid ‘Seal and Send’ Mail Back Envelopes
Patients can place unused or unwanted medications in the pre-paid and unmarked envelope prior to dropping it in the nearest mailbox for shipment via the United States Postal Service (USPS) to an approved destruction site. Each pre-paid drug mail-back envelope will include instructions for use and a Patient Education Sheet. To get a free pre-paid mail-back envelope, just ask at any Walgreens pharmacy.
Medication Disposal Kiosks
Select locations offer kiosks where you can bring your unwanted, unused or expired medication and drop it in, just like a mailbox. The kiosks accept most prescription and over-the-counter medications and are available during normal pharmacy hours.
Additional Resources
Drug Disposal: Drug Take-Back Options | FDA Opens in a new tab
Call the DEA Diversion Control Division Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539 for more information about drug take-back locations.
