National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Is April 25

Medications can be safely discarded at locations nationwide

Aaron Kassraie

Updated April 24, 2026

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En español

Updated April 24, 2026

woman's hand taking a prescription bottle out of a medicine cabinet with a number of prescriptions bottles in it

Tetra Images / Getty Images

Key takeaways

The April 25 event allows anonymous drop‑off of unused or expired medications at thousands of sites nationwide.
Tablets, capsules, patches, and sealed liquids are accepted, but sharps and illicit drugs are not.
Since 2010, the twice‑yearly program has removed more than 20 million pounds of drugs from circulation.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its latest National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at thousands of locations nationwide.

During this time, anyone may anonymously dispose of old, unwanted or expired medications at a collection site. (Search for a nearby site here.)

“The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat,” the DEA said in a statement. “While the community does its part to turn in unneeded medications and remove them from potential harm, we are doing our part to further reduce drug-related violence.”

Held twice a year, this is the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day since the program’s inception in 2010. Since then, over 20 million pounds of drugs have been removed from circulation.

When medications are no longer needed and taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision, they can be as dangerous as street drugs or be a gateway to addiction. Nonmedical use of prescription drugs ranks second to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America, according to the DEA.

Older adults are commonly prescribed multiple drugs — 42 percent of adults 65 and older take five or more drugs monthly, and at least 18 percent take 10 or more — and may be more likely than younger adults to possess unused or unwanted drugs, according to a 2019 report from the Lown Institute. Managing multiple prescriptions can also increase the risk of medication storage and dosing errors.

What types of drugs can be discarded?

Any tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs are accepted. Liquids, such as cough syrup, should be sealed in their original containers. Syringes, sharp items and illicit drugs are not accepted.

For those with prescription drugs they would like to dispose of on other days throughout the year, there are nearly 16,500 locations where medications can be discarded safely, including pharmacies, hospitals and police stations. Some of them are taking part in this year’s Take Back Day. The public also has the option to drop off unwanted medications at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. Check your local VA health facility for more information.

Although these programs are the best way to throw out old medications, some people don’t live near a take-back location. The DEA recommends they take the unwanted medications out of their bottles, mix them with something unappealing such as used cat litter or coffee grounds, and seal it all in a bag or disposable container before throwing it in the trash.

For more information on proper drug disposal, visit the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) page of frequently asked questions.

Drug overdoses by the numbers

In 2022, drug overdose deaths hit an all-time high of 107,941 fatalities in one year, most commonly from opioids. That’s about 296 people per day, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A majority of those who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from a family member or friend. Teens often take them from medicine cabinets in the homes of friends and family members, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. 

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