Rapid Message Testing with Consumer Panel - Safe Drug Disposal Notecard

3 Options for Safe Drug Disposal
1. Use a Take-Back Program

• Check with your pharmacy. Some pharmacies have

mail-back programs and/or disposal kiosks.
• Check with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
to find an authorized collector in your community. Visit
www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal or call
1-800-882-9539.
• Contact your local law enforcement officials to find a
take-back location nearest you.

2. Flush-It When Appropriate

• If left unsecured, some drugs can be a deadly risk
to others in your home.

3. Trash-It When Indicated

• Use this option if a take-back program is not readily
available and the product is not on the flush list.

• Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with
a substance like dirt, cat litter, or used coffee
grounds.
• Place the mixture in a sealed container like a plastic
bag.
• Throw the container in your household trash.
• Delete all personal information on the prescription
label of the empty pill bottles or medicine packaging,
then dispose the container.

• Some medicines have specific instructions to flush them

down the toilet when no longer needed immediately, and
a take-back option is not readily available.
• Ask your pharmacist if your medicine is on the list of
drugs that should be flushed. This information can be
accessed at www.fda.gov/drugdisposal.

FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity
www.fda.gov/minorityhealth