The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting National Prescription Drug Take Back Day tomorrow, Oct. 25, because too often, drugs that go unused make their way into the wrong hands.

Take Back Day aims to provide a safe and responsible avenue to dispose of prescription drugs. This gives you an opportunity to scan through your medicine cabinets and safely, anonymously dispose of unnecessary, expired or otherwise unused medications to help prevent misuse of prescription drugs and reduce the potential for accidental overdoses or poisonings.

The DEA and its partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs, but not syringes, sharps or illicit drugs.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids are the most frequently misused prescription pain medications. These include oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine.

To find a disposal location nearest you or learn more, visit DEATakeBack.com.

In addition to National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are several DEA-authorized collectors that are available year-round for the disposal of unwanted medications. Search Year-Round Drop-Off Locations - Search Utility to identify year-round pharmaceutical disposal locations in your area.

The most recent National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was in April 2025, which boasted the following national statistics:

• Total law enforcement participation: 4,472
  
  
• Total collection sites: 4,590
  
  
• Total weight collected: 620,321 pounds (310 tons)
  
  
• Total weight, all time: 19,820,761 pounds (9,910 tons)
  
  
• Ohio ranked No. 1 in the nation in the following categories:
  • Total law enforcement participation: 313
  • Total collection sites: 285
• Ohio collected 30,000 pounds of prescription medications during the April 2025 Drug Take Back Day and has an all-time collection of 992,309 pounds of prescription medications.

Sources:
DEA Diversion Control Division
DEA Press Releases