Disposing of Controlled Substances in
the United States
Unused or expired prescription controlled substances, including certain opioid pain medicines, stimulants, and sedatives, require careful disposal to prevent accidental poisoning, misuse, and environmental contamination.
For most household medications, the preferred option is an authorized drug take-back location or an approved mail-back program. Prescription medications and illicit or unidentified drugs require different handling.
1. Use an Authorized Drug Take-Back Location
Some pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement facilities collect unwanted household medications, including controlled substances. Not every pharmacy or medication collection program is authorized to accept controlled substances.
Use the DEA’s drug disposal resources
to find year-round collection options.
Call ahead to confirm accepted medications, hours, packaging requirements, and any restrictions.
Follow the collection site’s instructions for liquids, patches, inhalers, and other medication forms.
Keep needles and syringes out of medication collection boxes unless the program specifically provides a separate sharps service.
Remove or obscure personal information on packaging when doing so does not conflict with the program’s instructions.
Do not assume a household hazardous waste facility or ordinary pharmacy counter accepts controlled medications.
2. Participate in Prescription Drug Take-Back Events
The DEA and local partners periodically hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events. Communities may also organize their own medication collection events.
Check the
for current locations and instructions rather than waiting for an event when a year-round disposal option is available.
DEA Take Back Day sites do not accept illicit drugs, needles, or syringes. Other acceptance limits may apply.
3. Use an Approved Mail-Back Program
Some authorized collectors and pharmacies provide prepaid medication mail-back envelopes.
Confirm that the specific program accepts controlled substances.
Use the supplied packaging and follow all instructions.
Check restrictions on liquids, inhalers, sharps, and other items.
Do not mail medications in an ordinary envelope or send them to an organization without an established, authorized program.
Some medication-disposal services accept only noncontrolled medicines. A general medication-disposal listing is not proof that controlled substances are accepted.
4. If Take-Back or Mail-Back Is Not Readily Available
FDA guidance distinguishes between medicines on its Flush List and those that are not.
Medicines on the FDA Flush List
If a take-back location or mail-back option is not readily available, follow the FDA’s instructions for promptly flushing medicines on its
.
These medicines can be especially dangerous if accidentally used or misused. For this limited group, FDA considers the immediate safety risk to outweigh the potential environmental risk from recommended flushing.
Do not flush a medicine merely because it is a controlled substance. Check the exact medicine and follow its specific disposal instructions.
Medicines Not on the FDA Flush List
If take-back or mail-back is not readily available and the medicine is not on the Flush List, FDA generally recommends household-trash disposal as follows:
Remove the medicine from its original container.
Mix it with an undesirable material, such as used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter.
Do not crush tablets or capsules.
Place the mixture in a sealed bag or other closed container to prevent leakage.
Put the container in household trash.
Remove or obscure personal information on the empty medication packaging before discarding it.
Ask a pharmacist about products with special disposal instructions.
A blanket statement that controlled substances must never go in household trash is inaccurate. The appropriate method depends on the specific medication and applicable instructions.
5. Illicit Drugs and Unidentified Substances
Do not place illicit drugs or unidentified powders in prescription medication collection boxes or mail-back envelopes. DEA prescription take-back events do not accept illicit drugs.
Keep children, pets, and other people away.
Do not open packages, taste, sniff, crush, or handle unidentified substances.
Contact local law enforcement through its nonemergency number for instructions before moving or transporting the material.
Do not bring an unknown substance to a pharmacy, police station, or collection event without prior instructions.
If someone is unresponsive, breathing slowly, or showing other signs of a possible overdose, call 911 immediately. Give naloxone if available and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Safety and Legal Notice
Notice: This article provides general educational information for U.S. households. It is not medical or legal advice and does not replace medication-specific instructions, advice from a pharmacist, or requirements from regulatory authorities.
This household guidance does not establish disposal procedures for pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, or other businesses handling controlled substances. Those organizations must follow the requirements applicable to their operations.
Never share or sell unwanted prescription medication. Confirm that a collector or mail-back service accepts the specific substance before transferring it. Disposal instructions for legitimate household medicines should not be applied to illicit drugs, unidentified powders, or contaminated materials.
Sources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Drug Disposal, Drug Take-Back Options
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
https://www.dea.gov/takebackday
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Disposal of Unused Medicines, What You Should Know
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know
U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA’s Flush List for Certain Medicines
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Collection Restrictions
Georgia Department of Public Health: Law Enforcement and First Responders
https://dph.georgia.gov/stopopioidaddiction/law-enforcement-first-responders
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fentanyl and Overdose Prevention Recommendations
