That prescription pain medication left over from surgery. An old bottle of pills tucked away in the bathroom cabinet. A medication you stopped taking months ago.
Most of us have unused prescriptions somewhere in our homes. We may not think twice about them, but keeping medications we no longer need can create unnecessary risks for our families and communities.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications before they end up in the wrong hands.
Organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the event will provide more than 4,400 collection sites nationwide, giving individuals and families a convenient way to dispose of medications they no longer need.
But prescription drug safety is important every day, not just twice a year.
Why Should You Get Rid of Unused Prescription Medications?
Prescription medications can play an important role in treating pain, managing chronic conditions, and improving quality of life. But medications that are no longer needed should not remain in the home indefinitely.
Unused prescriptions, particularly opioids and other medications with a potential for misuse, can present several risks:
- Accidental ingestion: Children, pets, and other household members may accidentally come into contact with medications that were not prescribed for them.
- Prescription drug misuse: Medications left unsecured can be taken by someone other than the person for whom they were prescribed.
- Overdose: Taking prescription medications incorrectly, combining certain medications with other substances, or using someone else’s prescription can have serious, potentially life-threatening consequences.
- Confusion over medications: Keeping outdated prescriptions can increase the risk of someone accidentally taking the wrong medication or dose.
Safely disposing of medications you no longer need is one practical way to reduce these risks.
Are Prescription Painkillers Still a Concern in Today’s Opioid Crisis?
When people hear about the opioid epidemic today, much of the conversation focuses on fentanyl and other illicitly manufactured drugs.
But prescription opioids remain an important part of the conversation.
Medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are prescribed to manage certain types of pain. When used appropriately under medical supervision, they can provide meaningful relief. However, these medications also carry risks, including physical dependence, misuse, addiction, and overdose.
Not everyone who takes prescription opioids develops an addiction, and physical dependence is not the same as opioid use disorder. Still, taking medications differently than prescribed or using someone else’s medication can be dangerous.
Keeping leftover prescription pain medications around long after they’re needed creates an avoidable opportunity for misuse.
To learn more about the benefits and risks of prescription opioids, read BrightView’s article, Prescribed Pain: Exploring the Fine Line of Prescription Opioid Use.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: October 24, 2026
The DEA’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day takes place:
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. local time
Locations: More than 4,400 collection sites across the United States
The event allows people to turn in unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications for safe disposal.
Since the program began in 2010, Americans have turned in more than 21 million pounds of medications through DEA Take Back Day events.
The goal is simple: reduce the number of unnecessary medications sitting in homes and help prevent accidental poisonings, misuse, and diversion.
What Medications Can You Bring?
According to the DEA, collection sites will accept:
- Prescription tablets and capsules
- Prescription medication patches
- Other eligible prescription medications
- Liquid medications that are securely sealed in their original containers
Items that will not be accepted include syringes, needles and other sharps, and illegal drugs.
If you’re unsure whether a particular medication can be accepted, check with the collection location before visiting.
How to Find a Prescription Drug Collection Site Near You
Finding a participating location is easy.
Visit the DEA’s official National Prescription Drug Take Back Day website and use the collection site locator.
You can search by ZIP code, city, county, or state to find participating locations in your area.
Find a collection site near you: https://www.dea.gov/takebackday
What If You Can’t Participate on October 24?
You don’t need to wait for a national event to dispose of unused medications safely.
The DEA reports that more than 15,300 pharmacies, hospitals, and other businesses provide authorized medication disposal services throughout the year. Some police departments also maintain permanent prescription drug drop boxes.
Visit the DEA’s year-round medication disposal resources to find an authorized collection location.
For medications that cannot be returned through a collection program, follow FDA disposal guidance or ask your pharmacist how to dispose of them safely. Most medications should not be flushed down the toilet unless they are specifically included on the FDA’s flush list and no take-back option is readily available.
What Are the Warning Signs of Prescription Opioid Misuse?
Safe medication disposal is one part of prevention. Recognizing when someone may be struggling with prescription opioid use is equally important.
Potential warning signs include:
- Taking larger doses or using medication more frequently than prescribed
- Running out of prescriptions earlier than expected
- Taking medications prescribed to someone else
- Experiencing strong cravings or difficulty cutting back
- Continuing to use opioids despite negative effects on health, relationships, or daily responsibilities
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing opioid use
These behaviors do not necessarily mean someone has an opioid use disorder, but they may indicate that a conversation with a healthcare professional is needed.
If you are concerned about your own medication use or that of someone you love, asking for help early can make a meaningful difference.
Prevention Matters. So Does Access to Treatment.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reminds us that preventing substance misuse doesn’t always require a complicated solution. Sometimes it begins with taking a few minutes to make our homes safer.
But prevention is only one part of addressing addiction.
For people already struggling with opioid use disorder, compassionate, evidence-based treatment can help reduce cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms, and support long-term recovery.
At BrightView Health, we provide comprehensive outpatient addiction treatment that combines medications for opioid use disorder, behavioral health services, and individualized support.
Whether someone has developed an opioid use disorder involving prescription pain medications or illicit opioids, treatment is available.
Learn more about finding medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
Take a Few Minutes. Make a Difference.
This October, take a look inside your medicine cabinet.
Check for unused medications, make sure prescriptions you still need are stored securely, and identify a safe disposal location for medications you no longer use.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Visit DEA.gov/TakeBackDay to find a participating collection site.
Recovery is possible, and help is available.
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Clinical Reviewer
