Kentucky Health News
In partnership with local law enforcement, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day acts as a reminder to get rid of any unused or expired medication.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration holds this event every April and October. This year’s 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will fall on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Removing unused and expired medications from your home and disposing of them properly is a simple but powerful step in preventing prescription drug misuse,” DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said in a news release. “DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a critical public safety initiative that we have hosted for 16 years. Its continued success is due, in large part, to our local and state law enforcement and community partners who continue to stand with us to make our communities safe.”
Since 2011, Kentucky has collected 236,339 pounds of unused and/or unwanted prescriptions at all Drug Take Back Events and locations, with 22,247 pounds collected in 2025.
“Cleaning out your home medicine cabinet and safely disposing of unneeded or expired medications is a great way to help safeguard the community by keeping potentially harmful pills off of our streets,” Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, who heads DEA’s Louisville Field Division, said in the release. “It’s a small act that can pay big dividends.”
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be securely sealed in their original container. Syringes, sharps or illicit drugs are not collected.
To find one of the 60 collection sites in Kentucky, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on April 25, there are at least 203 permanent prescription drug disposal locations in Kentucky that offer year-round services for medication disposal. Kentucky locations by county can be found on the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy website.
