How to dispose of unwanted medication
Use local drug take back programs
Category
Drug take back sites
The best way to dispose of unused, expired, or unwanted medication is through a drug take back site.
Klamath Falls and Chiloquin have Drug Enforcement Administration authorized collectors to help you safely dispose of unwanted medications. You can always check with your pharmacist to help you safely dispose of your medications.
Have medication you don’t need anymore? Bring your unwanted medication to a drug-drop kiosk at any Sky Lakes pharmacy location.
Local drug take back programs
- Sky Lakes Outpatient Pharmacy
- Sky Lakes Downtown Pharmacy
- Sky Lakes Inpatient Pharmacy
- Sky Lakes Washburn Pharmacy
- Klamath Health Partnership
- Klamath Tribal Pharmacy (Klamath Falls)
- Klamath Tribal Pharmacy (Chiloquin)
- Albertsons Pharmacy
How to dispose of medications at home
Medications can be harmful to others if not properly disposed. Always prioritize using a drug take back program, but if they are not easily available, you can dispose of your medications at home depending on the type of medication.
When to Flush
Always check the FDA’s flush list for whether your drug is safe to flush down the toilet. If your medication has instructions to flush or is on the flush list, you can flush your medications down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed.
Do not flush medication that is not on the flush list.
When to throw away
If a take back program isn’t available and your medication isn’t on the flush list, you can throw it in your household trash. Follow these instructions when disposing of medications in your household trash.
- Remove drugs from their original containers and mix them with undesirable waste like coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter to make the drugs unrecognizable and unappealing to those who may find them.
- Put drugs in a container you can close like an empty can, a Ziplock, or other container to prevent spilling or leaking.
- Thow the container in the garbage.
- Remove all personal information from your empty medication packages before throwing the package away.
