The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is set for April 26, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations across the country. Held twice a year, this event offers a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications.
To get ready for Take Back Day:
- Gather all medications in your home and make sure they’re stored securely—tight lids, out of reach of children and pets.
- Review your inventory and separate any medications that are expired or no longer needed.
- Clearly label those items for disposal.
- Bring them to a collection site between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 26.
During the October 2024 event, 629,953 pounds (314 tons) of medications were collected from 4,644 collection sites, nationwide, with 7,142 pounds collected from Kansas from 70 collection sites. Since the initiative began in fall 2010, the DEA has gathered over 19.2 million pounds (9,600 tons) of prescription drugs nationwide, with Kansas’s total at 268,665 pounds.
For 16 years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has partnered with state and local agencies to make safe drug disposal accessible to communities across the country. The initiative not only helps prevent prescription drug misuse but also raises awareness about the dangers of keeping unused medications at home. Visit the DEA’s website to find a Take Back location near you.
