DEA Hosts the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25th
NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearly 4,200 locations nationwide.
Twice a year, DEA joins forces with local law enforcement and community groups to host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, giving the public a safe and anonymous way to dispose of expired and unused prescription medications. By getting rid of unnecessary medications in the home, families can help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the potential for accidental poisonings.
“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one of the most effective ways we can prevent addiction before it starts,” stated DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. “Too often, unused medications sit in medicine cabinets where they can be misused, stolen, or lead to accidental overdoses. By safely disposing of these medications, we are protecting our families and saving lives.”
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been in effect since 2010, but the program was started in New Jersey in 2009 by the DEA New Jersey Field Division and their partners. This program has provided an easy and accessible way to dispose of medications that could pose a threat if misused. Over the past 16 years, National Prescription Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States. New Jersey residents have surrendered more than 444,000 pounds of these medications.
Opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, are among the most misused prescription pain medications, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
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 learn how to properly dispose of these items we encourage you to visit FDA.gov.
To find the Take Back Day location nearest you visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate in this month’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are more than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal year-round. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.
