Medication Storage & Disposal
Properly storing and disposing of medications can help prevent accidental poisoning, misuse and other harm. Whether you have prescription or over-the-counter medications at home, it's important to keep them secure and dispose of medications you no longer need safely.
Safely Store Your Medications
Keep medications in a secure location that is out of reach of children, teens and pets. For medications that could be misused or accidentally taken, consider keeping them locked in a secure location.
If You Take Opioids:
Opioids can be especially dangerous if taken by someone they were not prescribed for. To help keep your household safe:
- Lock up your medications, if possible.
- Keep track of how many pills you have left.
- Avoid storing medications in places where they are easily accessible, such as bathrooms or kitchen counters.
- Keep medications out of reach of infants, children, teens and pets.
Safely Dispose of Unused or Expired Medications
Don't let unused or expired medications accumulate in your home. The preferred way to dispose of most prescription and over-the-counter medications is through a drug take-back program.
Use a Drug Take-Back Program
Drug take-back programs provide a safe way to dispose of medications you no longer need.
Contact your city, parish, our county government's household trash and recycling service to ask whether a drug take-back program is available in your community. Some parishes and counties also hold household hazardous waste collection events where prescription and over-the-counter medications are accepted for proper disposal.
You can also use an authorized medication drop-off location, such as a participating pharmacy or law enforcement facility.
Find a Medication Drop Off Location
Dispose of Medications at Home
If a drug take-back option is not readily available, check the medication's label, package insert or FDA guidance for specific disposal instructions.
For most medications that are not on the FDA Flush List:
- Remove the medication from its original container.
- Mix the medication with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter. Do not crush tablets or capsules.
- Place the mixture in a sealable bag or disposable container with a lid.
- Place the sealed container in your household trash.
- Before throwing away empty medication containers, remove or cover personal information, including your name and prescription number.
Do not flush medications unless they are specifically included on the FDA Flush List or your medication's instructions tell you to do so.