Safe Disposal is a Solution
Properly Discard Prescription Opioids and other medications
Find a Prescription Take Back Location in Illinois
All of the known prescription take back locations in the Illinois are shown on the maps within the links provided below. Before bringing in your medications, make sure to call into these locations to see if they are offering take back services. These links will help you find more prescription take back options specific to your location and will also provide you with information on take back locations across the country.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
Click here to access this prescription take back locator.
PRESCRIPTION TAKE BACK
Community Events
At the 2018 National Prescription Take Back Day of October in Illinois, there were 168 local agencies that helped to properly dispose of 36,898 pounds of prescription drugs. Make your community safer by participating at the next event.
Next Prescription Take Back Event: April 27th, 2019
Check to see if your local law enforcement agency is hosting a collection site for this event. If you know of a local agency that is not, please encourage them to participate and get involved as part of national prescription take back day.
* If you live in the Wheeling Township area click here to access A Prescription Take Back Day Poster for Nearby Take Back Locations
Home Disposal
To avoid any environmental risks associated with flushing or throwing out medications, please attempt to take your leftover prescription medications to a take back location in your area so that they can be disposed of properly.
1. Mix
Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds.
1. Mix
Mix medicines (do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unpalatable substance such as dirt, kitty litter, or used coffee grounds.
2. Place
Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
2. Place
Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag.
3. Throw
Throw the container into your household trash.
3. Throw
Throw the container into your household trash.
4. Scratch Out
Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container.
4. Scratch Out
Scratch out all personal information on the prescription label of your empty pill bottle or empty medicine packaging to make it unreadable, then dispose of the container.
If there are:
- No prescription take-back programs available in your area
- No specific disposal instructions on the label, such as flushing
