The safest way to get rid of old medications

When was the last time you cleaned out your medicine cabinet? Those forgotten bottles can create safety risks for your family, pets and community.

To make it easier to securely discard outdated prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in April and October. On those days, there are extra locations for discarding expired and unneeded medications.

Where else can you safely dispose of medications?

Even if you miss Take Back Day, there may be places near you where you can dispose of medications throughout the year. Check with local hospitals or police departments to see if they have a program for disposing of unneeded prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. Centrally located recycling centers may also have options for drug disposal. Find a site near you in Illinois or Wisconsin.

If you’re in an area that doesn’t have a nearby disposal option, check with local pharmacies to see if they have a mail-back program, an on-site drop-off box or other ways to safely dispose of medications. Some mail-back programs are available online, too.

Protect your family and community

“Safely disposing of medications protects children or pets from being exposed to them, particularly teenagers,” says Dr. Kevin Koo, a family physician with Advocate Health Care. “The majority of opioid addictions start with drugs that were found at home or at a friend’s home. Those leftover pain meds from your recent surgery could cause pain for someone you love.”

Safer disposal protects everyone from health problems caused by:

• Taking the wrong medicine
• Taking too much medicine
• Taking medicines that are expired and won’t work well
• Having unexpected interactions with newly prescribed medicines

Secure disposal options also keep medicines from entering the water supply after being flushed down the toilet or thrown in the trash.

Fortunately, safely disposing of medications is easier thanks to Take Back Day events and year-round collection programs.

Are you trying to find a doctor? Find one in Illinois or Wisconsin.