Drug Take Back Initiative: Drop off your unused prescription medications this Saturday!

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- On Saturday, May 16th, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) will coordinate a Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative throughout Wisconsin.

This initiative is a continuation of the collaborative efforts previously conducted by the DEA with state and local law enforcement agencies.

The Prescription Drug Take Back Day goal is to provide safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal of prescription medications, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. Unused prescription medications in homes create a public health and safety concern, because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused and abused.












Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain.

Removing potentially dangerous pharmaceutical substances from our state's medicine cabinets helps to prevent them from going into our water supply. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes around the world.

On Saturday, May 16th, participating law enforcement agencies can host one or more collection sites at locations and times of their choosing.

Here's what you should and should not bring with you on Saturday:

Bring: Prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications.

Do Not Bring: Illegal drugs, needles/sharps, inhalers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), mercury thermometers, personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, etc...), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas).

Find a prescription drug drop-off location near you: