Are You Handling Medication Responsibly?

We’re striving to educate prescription and over-the-counter medication users about how to follow instructions provided with your medicines, and to securely store and dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medicine.

To make your medicine work for you, there are four simple rules to follow:

1. Medication Adherence: Take your medicine exactly as instructed, including on labeling information and Medication Guides accompanying the medicine. If you have questions, ask your healthcare provider.
2. Medication Storage: Follow storage instructions as provided on the medicine label and on the patient information accompanying the medicine. Keep the medicine in a secure location, either in a medicine cabinet or safely away from people or pets that might come in contact with it.
3. Identify Unwanted, Unused or Expired Medicine: If medicine is unwanted, unused or expired, dispose of the medicine. Checking medication expiration dates isn’t exactly at the top of the to-do list for most Americans. According to a 2017 national study conducted by Consumer Reports, approximately one-third of Americans hadn’t cleaned out their medicine cabinet in the past year and almost one-fifth hadn’t done this in three years.
4. Medication Disposal: Dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medication in the ways recommended by the FDA. You can use the kiosk locator to find a conveniently located kiosk in local pharmacies and law enforcement facilities. These kiosks are designed to take your unwanted, unused, and expired medications. Be sure to remove any identifying information to protect your privacy.

Are you taking your medications responsibly?

If not, there’s no time like the present to start! For more information on medication adherence, medication storage, identifying unwanted, unused, or expired medicine, and medication disposal check out our FAQ page for additional resources.

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Due to possible disruptions associated with COVID-19, kiosk access to and operating hours at the listed kiosk locations may be impacted. If you have questions about a kiosk site, including current kiosk access, what can be disposed of, and hours of operation, contact the kiosk site directly. If you are not able to visit a kiosk and have immediate disposal needs visit the FDA website for additional guidance and be sure to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements.