Resources Prescription Drug Drop Off Boxes

These boxes are a safe way to discard expired or unwanted prescription medications and are available 24 hours every day. Medication may be dropped off anonymously; no contact with staff is necessary.

How to dispose of medication

1. Please remove all labels
2. Check that bottle caps are secure
3. Deposit in the drop off container

Not accepted

Please do not deposit the following:

• Syringes/needles
• Liquids
• Biohazard items
• Ointments
• Creams
• Sprays
• Vials
• Pen medications

Why drop off unused medications?

• It's a good way to combat and prevent prescription drug abuse.
• Unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
• Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold.
• Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
• Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
• The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America.
• The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends — and the home medicine cabinet.

The Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Central Iowa (SATUCI) has been a great supporter of the drug drop off program and may be contacted through their website.