Last updated September 2026
Medications can enter waterways and contaminate our water when flushed down drains or disposed of in landfills, which affects our environment and drinking water. Medicines can also be a danger to your child or pet, so it’s best not to leave them sitting around when not in use. Your medicine cabinet might contain expired drugs that you no longer use. See below for the best way to dispose of your expired, unwanted, or unused medicines.
Annual Drug Take Back Programs
The DEA sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day twice a year, once in April and again in late October. The fall event usually falls on the fourth Saturday in October. Check here for this year’s date and the drop-off site nearest you.
Where to Take It, Year Round
You don’t have to wait for Take Back Day. There are permanent drop-off points across Miami-Dade, and the easiest thing is to check before you drive.
Pharmacies. Many CVS and Walgreens locations have a disposal kiosk in the pharmacy waiting area that works like a mailbox. Not every store has one, so check first. Walgreens lets you filter for “medication disposal kiosk” in its store locator under the pharmacy section. For CVS and other participating pharmacies, the American Pharmacists Association keeps a locator at safe.pharmacy/drug-disposal.
The DEA’s collection site locator. The DEA maintains a searchable list of authorized year-round collectors at dea.gov/takebackday.
Police and fire departments. Some keep a lobby drop box, some don’t, and programs come and go. Call before you go.
If you can’t get to a kiosk. Both chains offer at-home options free of charge. Walgreens will give you a pre-paid mail-back envelope at any pharmacy counter, and CVS provides DisposeRx packets that let you neutralize medication in the pill bottle at home. Just ask.
Proper Disposal Method
Scratch out all your personal information on the empty medicine packaging or remove the portion with your name and barcode to protect your identity and privacy.
Accepted Items
- Prescription medicines
- Prescription patches
- Over-the counter medication
- Prescription Ointments
- Vitamins
- Medication samples
Items NOT ACCEPTED
- Aerosol cans
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Needles/Syringes/Sharps (check with your primary care physician or pharmacy for proper disposal)
- Medications from businesses or clinics
- Thermometers
- Non-prescription ointments, lotions or liquids.
Active Medications
If you live in a household with children, it is best to keep the medications you are currently using in a locked closet or a container such as this one:
