Safely Dispose of Prescription Medicines

This information explains why safe disposal matters and how to dispose of prescription medicines in Springfield.

Getting rid of expired or unused prescription medicines helps protect your health, your loved ones, and the community - including the environment.

Flushing medicines down the toilet or pouring them down the drain can pollute our water supply. This can harm fish and other wildlife in rivers and streams. Over time, these chemicals can even reach our drinking water.

Keeping unused medicines at home can also be risky. Children or pets may accidentally swallow them, which can lead to serious illness. The safest choice is to dispose of medicines as soon as they expire or are no longer needed.

Why Keeping Unused Medicines Can Be Risky

Medicines are prescribed for a specific person, condition, and length of time. Even if pills are left over, using them later may not be safe or appropriate.

In particular, Some medicines, especially those prescribed for sleep, anxiety, or pain, are meant for short-term use. Keeping leftover pills “just in case” can create temptation later. During stressful times, people may take them in ways that are different from how they were prescribed.

Safely disposing of unused medicines helps prevent accidental harm and supports safer use of prescription medicines.

Warning Signs of a Medicine Use Problem

Some signs that prescription medicine use may have become a problem include:

  • Taking more medication than prescribed
  • Taking a medication for longer than prescribed
  • Using a medication for a reason other than what it was prescribed for
  • Mixing medications with alcohol or other substances

You can talk with someone about concerns related to prescription medicine use at: Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline, 800-327-5050 or SAMHSA National Helpline, 800-662-4357.

How to Dispose of Medicines Safely

Option 1: Mail-Back Envelope

The Protect What Matters project provides free mail-back envelopes. The postage is already paid. Expired or unused medicines (pills only) can be poured into the envelope, sealed, and dropped into any United States Postal Service outgoing mailbox.

The envelopes are sent to a secure location, where the medicines are safely destroyed.

If you would like more information, a free medication mail-back envelope, or other Protect What Matters campaign materials, email RxMail-Back@edc.org or call 617-618-2148.

Option 2: Medicine Drop Boxes

You can drop off expired or unused prescription medicines in their original bottles or containers. Place them in a bag or box and bring them to one of these Springfield medicine drop box locations:

  • Springfield Pharmacy — 2547 Main St.
  • Louis & Clark Pharmacy — 155 Brookdale Dr.
  • CVS —  600 State St.
  • CVS — 615–621 Belmont Ave.
  • Walgreens — 501 Sumner Ave.
  • Baystate Medical Center — 759 Chestnut St.
  • Mercy Medical Center — 271 Carew St.

Option 3: DEA National Rx Take Back Day

Every April and October, the Drug Enforcement Administration partners with the Springfield Police Department to host National Rx Take Back Day. These events allow the public to safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

Information about Springfield Take Back Day events is available through:

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