Safe Storage &
Disposal of Medication
Protect your Family.
Protect your Community.
Unused and expired medications can create unnecessary risks when they are left unsecured or thrown away incorrectly. A few simple steps can help protect children, teens, pets, and others in your home while keeping unwanted medication out of the wrong hands.
Store Medication Safely
Check Your Medicine Cabinet
Ready to Get Rid of Unwanted Medication?
Don't let unused medication sit around.
When you have medication you no longer need, the best option is to get it out of your home through a safe disposal method.
Choose one of these options:
Take It Back
The easiest choice? Take it back.
Bring unwanted or expired medication to a drug take-back location or a community medication take-back event.
Take-back options may be available year-round at participating pharmacies, law enforcement agencies, and other authorized locations.
Community organizations may also host Drug Take-Back Days throughout the year.
Use Deterra®
Dispose of medication safely at home.
Can’t make it to a take-back location?
Deterra® Drug Deactivation System provides a simple way to deactivate and dispose of unwanted medication at home.
Deterra uses a drug deactivation pouch to deactivate medication and help prevent it from being retrieved or misused.
Please don't flush medication!
Flushing medication can introduce pharmaceutical compounds into wastewater and the environment.
Keep Medication Out of the Wrong Hands
Safe storage and disposal can help reduce opportunities for:
Medication Mix-ups
Accidental ingestion
Unintentional exposure
Medication misuse
Unnecessary access
Have Questions About a Medication?
Ask your pharmacist.
Some medications and medication products may have specific storage or disposal instructions.
If you’re unsure what to do with a medication, talk with your pharmacist or healthcare professional and follow the instructions provided with the medication or disposal product.
