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Cancel & Safely Dispose of Medications
Secure Home & Dependents
Contact pharmacies to stop automatic refills and remove the deceased from prescription plans. Many pharmacies and police stations accept unused medications for safe disposal. Do not flush medications or throw them in regular trash, as this poses environmental and safety risks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Process
Where can I safely dispose of medications?
The safest option is a DEA-authorized take-back location. Find one at deadiversion.usdoj.gov or call your local pharmacy—CVS, Walgreens, and many independent pharmacies have permanent drop-off kiosks. The DEA also hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Days twice a year (April and October). Many police stations and hospitals accept medications year-round. Never flush medications unless the FDA flush list specifically permits it.
What if I cannot get to a take-back location?
Mix the medications with an undesirable substance (used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter) in a sealed bag or container, then place in household trash. Remove or black out all personal information on prescription labels. The FDA provides a complete at-home disposal guide. For controlled substances, flushing is preferred over trash disposal if a take-back location is not accessible.
Should I notify the deceased's pharmacy?
Yes. Call each pharmacy where the deceased had prescriptions to cancel all active prescriptions, stop automatic refills, and close the prescription profile. This prevents identity theft through prescription fraud. Ask about any refund for recently filled prescriptions that were not used. The pharmacy can also provide a complete medication history, which may be useful for estate or insurance purposes.
Legal
How do I dispose of controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines)?
Controlled substances like oxycodone, fentanyl patches, morphine, and benzodiazepines should be taken to a DEA-authorized collection site or surrendered to law enforcement. If no collection site is available, the FDA allows flushing certain high-risk medications to prevent accidental ingestion or diversion. The FDA flush list is available at fda.gov. Do not keep controlled substances in the home longer than necessary.