Protect Your Family By Disposing Of Medications Safely

Dispose of Unused Medications: Take Action Today!

If you have a bunch of expired or unused medications in your home, you certainly don't have to wait until Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to take your stuff to a disposal site. But as a reminder, that day is this Saturday, April 25th, from 10 AM to 2 PM.

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According to the 2019-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among the 9.5 million people who misused opioids in the past year, 9.3 million were misusing prescription pain relievers. With the increasing danger of fake pills and fentanyl laced pills, keeping any pills off the street and off the illegal market takes on added importance, according to the South Dakota Department of Social Services

The Overdose Epidemic is A Growing Concern

The Commonwealth Fund reports that provisional data show that drug overdoses in the United States claimed more than 100,000 lives for a third consecutive year in 2023 - -a more than 50 percent jump since 2019. By a substantial margin, the U.S. has the highest rate of overdose deaths in the world, followed by Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.

Taking medication not prescribed to you or taking expired medication can be very dangerous to you, your kids, and even your pets, should they happen to get into it.

Easy Disposal Solutions: What You Can Do

The best idea is always to get it out of the house. If that option isn't available, you can get DisposeRX packets for free just by filling out a form and submitting it to the Department of Social Services. You can also check the Federal Drug Administration's Flush List to see if your medications can be flushed safely.

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Here in Sioux Falls, courtesy of a partnership between Emily's Hope and Lewis Drug, you can take unused medications to any Lewis pharmacy. The Sioux Falls Police Department (320 4th Street) is also taking unused medications.

Find a disposal location near you on the DEA Take Back Prescriptions page.