Disposing of Medication

A priority of the Postoperative Pain Management in Rural Communities project is to inform patients about safe disposal methods for unused medication. Patients may find they have leftover opioid pain medications. It is important to properly dispose of these leftover pills to prevent others, including children, from accidentally overdosing.

We provide patients who receive an opioid prescription with a Deterra bag and instructions on its use, as depicted in this graphic. These instructions are specifically for Deterra bags.

There are other safe medication-disposal pouches available, and instructions on their use varies. People should always make sure to follow the directions on whatever disposal pouch they are using and confirm which types of medications can safely be disposed of using that product. Deterra allows for pills, liquids, capsules, patches, creams and most other medication delivery systems for opioids while other pouches may only be suitable for pills and liquids.

If disposal bags are not available, there are other options for safe medication disposal:

Dispose of medications at home: Mix pills or liquids with used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or dirt, put the mixture in a plastic bag, seal it, and throw it in the trash.

Take unused opioids to a medication disposal site:

• Find disposal sites using the Safe Pharmacy Drug Disposal Locator Tool (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy)

• Verify your prescription medication’s safety using the Safe Pharmacy Safe Site Search Tool when buying or refilling your medication online (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy).

• Patients can also safely dispose of unused medications at participating Wegmans, CVS, Walgreens, and other pharmacies, as well as most local police stations.

• Patients can also ask their provider if they accept the return of unused medication for proper disposal and, if not, whether they have information on additional local disposal sites.