How Do You Throw Away Medications and Prescription Drugs?

When you are ready to get rid of medication, it's not as simple as just tossing the bottle into the trash. There are some tricky rules for throwing out medications, so here are the best ways to do it, starting with our experts' number one recommendation.

Go to a take-back facility or drop-off box. The best way to get rid of drugs, Schwemm and Dr. Mackey agreed, is to take them to a medical take-back site, where professionals will dispose of them safely with no questions asked. You can find take-back sites near you through the Drug Enforcement Administration's website or through your county's website. Your pharmacy can also provide envelopes to mail in your medications instead.
Mix the medication with something unpalatable and toss it out. The second-best option for most drugs is to "mix it and pitch it," Schwemm said: take the medication out of the container and mix it in a plastic or Ziploc bag with an inedible substance like dirt, coffee grounds, or kitty litter. Zip it up or tie it up, double-bag it if you can, and throw it in the garbage.
Flush opioids, if you can't take them to a facility. If you're getting rid of an opioid, like Vicodin, OxyContin, or Percocet, both experts agreed that it's better to flush them down the toilet than throw them away. Delivering them to a take-back facility is preferred, but if that's not an option, "flushing is the best choice for public safety," Schwemm said. Dr. Mackey noted the environmental concerns over this option, but said, "The feeling was, based on the current opioid crisis, that the benefits of flushing overcome the potential environmental risks. I'm very concerned with the environment, personally," he added, "and I would have to agree with those recommendations. It is better to flush them and get them out of the house and reduce potential exposure."

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