Proper Disposal of Unwanted Medications

One of the more popular methods for proper disposal of pharmaceuticals is the take-back program. This is usually sponsored by pharmacies and accepts items including:

• Over-the-counter drugs
• Personal care products
• Prescription drugs, including controlled substances

Take-back programs put on by local governments can accept all these types of medications, but not controlled substances.

The first step is knowing what kind of drugs you have. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out if your medications are controlled substances. Also check with your local program to confirm what is accepted.

The next step is to remove labels with your personal information. Don’t risk identity theft by leaving personal information at the recycling center.