National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Date in the current year: October 24, 2026

Many people have unused prescription medications in their medicine cabinets for various reasons. The most common reason is that the patient stopped taking the medication before the prescription ran out because their condition was resolved sooner than expected or because the doctor changed the treatment plan.

Sometimes, people stock up on prescription medications for chronic conditions to prevent unexpectedly running out of the drug, but these medications may expire before they are needed. The saddest reason is when a patient dies and their family members are left with their remaining medications. Finally, some people obtain prescription drugs illegally.

Keeping unused prescription medications at home increases the risk of abuse or accidental poisoning, especially if you have family members with a history of substance abuse, children, or pets. However, you cannot simply throw away or flush unused or expired medications because doing so is harmful to the environment. Although there is an FDA-approved list of medications that can be flushed, these drugs are not environmentally safe. They are on the list due to carrying a high risk of abuse or accidental poisoning, so the FDA has determined that the potential harm to humans outweighs the environmental harm.

Some healthcare facilities and pharmacies serve as drop-off locations for unused medications. However, many people are unaware of their existence or do not have a registered take-back location nearby. To raise awareness of these locations and encourage the safe disposal of unnecessary prescription drugs, the DEA organizes a biannual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Twice a year, on a Saturday in April and October, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local law enforcement agencies set up several thousand temporary take-back locations across the nation. People can bring their unused or expired prescription medications to these locations free of charge and anonymously. No questions are asked and no documentation is required.

These locations collect solid forms of prescription drugs, such as tablets and capsules, as well as patches, and liquid medications in tightly sealed containers. Many locations also accept over-the-counter (OTC) medications, pet medications, and vape pens without batteries. However, illicit drugs, as well as syringes and other sharps are not accepted.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is not the only observance dedicated to the disposal of unused or unwanted medications. There is also National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day, which was initiated by DisposeRx and is observed on the third Friday in April. Since National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day falls a week or so before National Take Back Day in April, you can clean out your medicine cabinet on the third Friday in April and then drop off the medications you don’t need on National Take Back Day.