National Take Back Initiative

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The National Take Back Initiative is a voluntary U.S. program that invites people to return unused or expired medicines. Take‑back events happen twice a year—in the spring and fall—and the effort is coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The goal is to prevent improper disposal that can pollute the environment and pose safety risks.

Flushing medicines or throwing them in the trash can contaminate water because many sewage plants aren’t equipped to remove pharmaceuticals. Keeping medicines at home can lead to misuse or abuse, and teens often get drugs from family medicine cabinets.

After the first Take‑Back Day in 2010, Congress amended the law to create a permanent way to dispose of prescription drugs. The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 was signed by President Barack Obama, and the DEA began putting permanent disposal regulations in place. This initiative also supports the broader plan to reduce prescription drug abuse by educating the public and health care providers and by establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in all states.

Update: In April 2021, the program collected about 420 short tons (roughly 380 metric tons) of drugs at 5,060 sites nationwide.