Your furry, feathery, and scaly friends can get themselves into trouble when they find prescription or over-the-counter medications around the house or in the trash.
Human and veterinary medications accounted for over 42% of the calls received by the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in 2019.
Human and animal medicine that is flushed down sinks or toilets, or thrown in landfills, can also cause environmental problems, since they can end up in local streams, rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and even in our drinking water. Fish and other aquatic animals that live in water contaminated with pharmaceuticals have shown impaired reproduction and development.
What Can You Do?
Follow your veterinarian’s instructions when giving medication to your pet. Give every dose as instructed, even if your pet’s condition seems to be improving or is resolved. Your pet will benefit by avoiding disease relapse and drug resistance, and you won’t have to worry about disposing of any leftover doses.
Keep medicine out of reach of children and pets. Consider using a locked or child-proof cabinet. Always store medicine according to the directions on the label and in its original container so it remains effective and safe.
Sharing medications can be dangerous. Administer only medications prescribed or recommended by your veterinarian. To avoid adverse (and potentially fatal) problems, your pet’s medicine should not be given to another animal.
A takeback program should always be your first choice for disposal of unwanted or expired veterinary medications. There are other, less preferred ways to dispose of medications if a drop off or takeback program is not available to you. Visit Other Ways to Dispose to learn more. Never flush unwanted or expired medicine unless the medication gives specific instructions to flush it as a means of disposal. Unwanted or expired medicine should never be incinerated in burn barrels, composted, or buried.
Take-back programs offer a single-day event or permanent drop-off location for the safe, environmentally responsible disposal of unwanted or expired medicine. These programs are often found at pharmacies or law enforcement offices. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration also sponsors a National Take Back Day every spring and fall, partnering with local law enforcement. Your municipality may also offer programs where medicine can be dropped off for proper disposal. Contact your local waste management service or law enforcement office for more information, or visit the map to find a location near you. You can also ask your veterinarian if they accept unwanted and expired medicine, though they are not required to do so. Controlled substances, which are drugs regulated by the federal government, should never be returned to a veterinary clinic.
Reduce waste to prevent pollution!
- Keep both human and veterinary medications organized in a central, secure location to avoid purchasing more than can be used by the expiration date.
- Only purchase the amount of medicine that your family and pets need and can use up before it expires.
- Regularly inventory your medicines. If you currently have expired or unwanted medications, arrange for their safe disposal.
- Consider all your disposal options before you put expired or unwanted medicine in the trash.
FIND A DROP-OFF LOCATION
Use our interactive map to find a location near you to take your unwanted or expired medicine.