Prescription pain medication is an important method of treatment for many patients. However, for patients who have leftover pills, improper management can lead to diversion that might result in abuse or other unintended harm. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 87,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2024.
Many patients may not realize the important role they play in preventing prescription drug abuse. According to a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report, 39.1% of the 8.6 million people who misused prescription opioids obtained them from a friend or relative. Properly disposing of unused prescription drugs helps prevent diversion and keeps them from falling into the wrong hands.
The Environmental Impact of Improper Pharmaceutical Waste
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when medications are not disposed of properly, they can contaminate the environment, affecting water systems and aquatic life, including the presence of pharmaceuticals in drinking water.
Research also shows that there are human health effects of pharmaceuticals in the environment.
Traces of medications in drinking water may pose long-term human health risks, including hormonal imbalances and reproductive issues. Antibiotic pollution accelerates antimicrobial resistance (AMR), making infections harder to treat.
Disposal of medications through take-back programs is crucial to help protect both the environment and community health. Over time, pharmaceutical contaminants can build up, increasing the urgency for widespread safe disposal practices.
What Is Drug Take Back Day?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) introduced the National Prescription Drug Take Back Program in 2016 to help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction from starting.
Since its inception, the Drug Take Back Day program has collected over 19 million pounds of unused or outdated medications as of October 2024. Participating in this year’s DEA Drug Take Back Day on April 26, 2025, offers a simple yet effective way to combat the opioid epidemic and safeguard homes and communities.
For additional information on medication disposal efforts, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also provides a location lookup tool for permanent collection sites and periodic take-back events, ensuring safe and convenient disposal of both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications.
Stericycle Provides Safe and Sustainable Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal
Safe medication disposal is a year-round responsibility, not just a one-day event. Many people are not aware of how or when to dispose of unused or expired medications safely. However, a variety of secure and environmentally responsible solutions are available.
To ensure disposal methods are safe, there are key considerations to keep in mind:
- Never flush medications down the toilet as they can contaminate water supplies, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Avoid disposing of medications in household trash, where they can seep into soil and pose environmental risks.
How Stericycle Supports Drug Take-Back Programs
MedDrop™ Medication Collection Kiosks
Pharmacies and other DEA-registered or state licensed organizations can provide confidential drug collection kiosks to safely dispose of unwanted medications. Authorized collectors include retail pharmacies, hospitals or clinics with onsite pharmacies, and law enforcement agencies.
Seal&Send™ Consumer Medication Mail-Back Program
For those unable to access a drug take-back location, Stericycle offers Seal&Send™ Consumer Medication Mail Back envelopes. These prepaid, anonymous mail-back envelopes allow patients to send unused medication directly for incineration, preventing environmental contamination. Unlike collection kiosks, which can only be hosted by certain DEA registrants, any organization can purchase Seal&Send™ envelopes and distribute them to ultimate users, such as patients, employees, and students.
Stericycle remains committed to developing accessible, compliant, and environmentally responsible disposal methods to help prevent prescription medication misuse and to protect the environment.
Learn more about how Stericycle’s pharmaceutical and controlled substance disposal solutions can help healthcare organizations, patients, and businesses securely manage leftover medication.
