Medication Take-Back Program

How does medication take-back work?

Use the resources below to either Find a Local Medication Drop-Off Site or Request a Medication Mail-Back Package:

1. Find a Local Medication Drop-Off Site:
   • Disposal Locations: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control
   • Disposal Locations: Oregon Medication Take Back
2. Request a Medication Mail-Back Package:
   • Mail-Back Request from MED Project
   • Mail-Back Request from Safe Medicine Drop
     

Why is safe medicine disposal important?

Leftover or expired medicines can pose a number of serious environmental and health risks. If not disposed of, unused medicines may fall into the wrong hands and lead to accidental poisonings, addiction or abuse. Medicines can also have health and environmental impacts in our community when they end up in a landfill or are flushed down the toilet or drain. Wastewater treatment plants are not typically equipped to treat pharmaceuticals and chemical compounds from improperly disposed of medications can pass through treatment plants into our rivers or groundwater. 

Collection services are for household disposal only. Per ORS 459A.200, services are available to:

• Oregon residents;
• Non-business entities in Oregon; and
• Ultimate users, as defined by 21 U.S.C. 802(27)
  
  

What products are NOT accepted by medication take-back programs?

ORS 459A.200(5)(c) provides a full list of products that are not accepted. Examples include:

• Vitamins
• Supplements
• Emptied injector products
• Medical devices or device components
• Exposed sharps or other used drug products that are medical waste; sharps include needles, IV tubing with needles, scalpel blades, lancets, glass tubes and syringes
• Drugs administered in a clinical settings
• Drugs used for animal medicines
• Dialysis concentrates or solutions
• Biologics
• Nonprescription cosmetic drugs
• Herbal-based remedies
• Homepathic products
  

What happens to collected medications?

Collected drugs are destroyed at a hazardous waste disposal facility or a municipal solid waste incinerator permitted to accept pharmaceutical waste.