Do you have a medicine cabinet full of unused or expired medications? It’s not uncommon. You should know the safe ways to dispose of your medicine. This is important to avoid accidental use, misuse by other family members and improper disposal that could negatively impact the environment.

The very best way to dispose of your expired, unwanted or unused medicines is through a drug take back program.

Collection of colored pills

Avoid accidental use or misuse by other family members

VA is launching a nationwide effort to assist Veterans and non-Veterans to dispose their unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including controlled substance prescription medications.

Select VA medical facilities will have safe disposal options for the public that coincide with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) twice yearly National Prescription Drug Take Back Days.

Oct. 28 or 29

VA Medication Take Back Days will be held on either Oct. 28 or 29. VA Medication Take Back Days are determined locally, so check with your community’s closest VA medical facility to verify its participation and confirm the event date and time to coordinate your visit.

If you can’t attend a VA Medication Take Back event, there are year-round drug disposal options available near you. Visit the DEA Public Disposal Locations Search Tool to locate an authorized collector in your area.

Veterans enrolled for VA care can bring their expired or unused medications into their VA site of care for disposal anytime. Check with your VA Pharmacist or the VA Police Service at your facility for guidance.

Black out personal information on drug containers

When disposing your medications, always be sure to use a dark colored marker to cover the personal information on your medicine packaging to protect your identity and privacy.

If you have a question about your medicine, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

VA is committed to supporting the safe disposal of unused controlled substance prescription medications for our Veterans and we look forward to public participation on designated VA Medication Take Back Days.

Topics in this story

Leave a comment

The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form — it will be deleted for your protection.

14 Comments

  1. Colben K Sime November 1, 2022 at 13:52

    Would have been nice to receive this in time. Received on 10/31/22 when the collection dates were 10/28 & 10/29.

    • David Felix November 2, 2022 at 11:33

      This showed up November 2nd. Leave it to the VA.

  2. rhonda October 31, 2022 at 22:53

    Concur – why can there not be a standing collection container at each VAMC?

  3. ryann October 31, 2022 at 20:13

    Does Tripler have a dropoff box ALWAYS available around their Pharmacy? IF not, that would help us. Thank you

  4. Peter Hunt October 31, 2022 at 19:14

    My local VA has no provision for drop off of unwanted medication or needles

  5. milton simmons October 30, 2022 at 11:20

    Please add some additional days to the bring back of medications,
    Thank you,

  6. Todd October 28, 2022 at 06:44

    Looks like my comment went away I have a I have a full trash bag and no warning I’ve tried local places but they keep saying they’re full just wanted to keep loading the bags up and throw them in the corner and when I die some family members going to find a ton of these in the corner

  7. Todd October 28, 2022 at 06:40

    be real nice to have had this more than one day ahead of time so we could have made plans to get Transportation up there I have a huge trash bag full of pills

  8. Bob Boeri October 28, 2022 at 00:01

    Vietnam was a terrible war. No friendly greetings when veterans returned home.

  9. Jimmie Hall October 27, 2022 at 19:32

    Why, you’ll just reissue it to someone else. I’m a veteran and I don’t trust the VA any more.

  10. Devon Egg October 27, 2022 at 19:14

    Where is the drop off for drugs at BP VAMC ?

  11. L.J.Harrelson October 27, 2022 at 19:00

    I am glad that the VA is willing to accept expired scripts. I dont like to ask for full scripts unless I know I’m going use them but at times I ve been given renewals I didn’t need yet once they lv the pharmacy it seems as you cNt return. This is great. It’s not about not taking the right dose it’s about getting what’s not requested. Especially through the mail.

  12. David Hayden October 27, 2022 at 17:54

    Do you also take used syringes?

  13. ralph ferrara October 27, 2022 at 17:45

    wish i had known you could use my old meds. plz keep me advised in the future.

Comments are closed.

More Stories