Unused Medications

Did you know?

• Adults, especially seniors, may accidentally take the wrong drugs, or take expired drugs that are less effective.
• More than 7 out of 10 people who start abusing prescription drugs get them from the medicine cabinets of friends and family. (American Medical Association)
• 1 in 7 Montana high school students has taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.
• Among children, emergency room visits for accidental drug poisonings are twice as common as poisoning from other household products.
• Putting meds in the trash, flushing or pouring them down the drain contaminates water supplies and soil.

Don’t flush!

Empty your medicine cabinet in a safe, healthy, and more environmentally responsible way.

Take back and disposal resources

Find an authorized local collector of unused medications:

• Contact the DEA Office of Diversion Control’s Registration Call Center at (800) 882-9539
• Go to Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations - Search Utility
• View the FDA guide “How to Dispose of Unused Medicines”