Residents will have the opportunity to safely dispose of unused or expired medications April 25 during the 30th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The event allows the public to drop off prescription drugs anonymously at designated locations across their counties, with no identification required.
“These are really important because medicine has a way of just accumulating in everyone’s homes,” said Deputy Geoff Moore of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) media relations and crime prevention unit. “You don’t always know what to do with them, and the average person is probably a little wary of just throwing it in the trash.”
Officials say proper disposal helps prevent misuse of medication, particularly controlled substances such as opioids.
"This is a great way to dispose of the drugs because we don't want a controlled drug that is maybe addictive, like and opioid, to wind up in the trash that someone could get their hands on," Moore said. "This is the kind of thing where we're not going to ask questions."
Participants can drive up and place their medications into a collection bag. The items are sealed on site and transported directly to a disposal facility.
Moore said hypodermic needles will not be accepted. Residents are encouraged to contact local agencies for information on proper needle disposal locations.
PCSO said the program's goals is to provide awareness about prescription drug abuse, protect children from accidental ingestio, educate public on safely storing medication, preventative measures to avoid medication theft, provide safe ways to dispose medication and protect the enviroment by incinerating medication instead of disposing in the trash or down drains.
This event is a part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) initiative to prevent drug misuse and ensure safe disposal of medication.
During the April 2025 take back event, DEA reported 4,472 law enforcement agencies participated across 4,590 collection sites, collecting more than 620,00 pounds of medications. In October 2025, DEA reported 4,263 law enforcement agencies participated across 4,317 collection sites, collecting more than 571,000 pounds.
The PCSO is among thousands os agencies participating in Saturday's event. Collection sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents can find a nearby drop-off location through the DEA.