Where To Drop Off Unused Prescription Drugs In Tucson

TUCSON, AZ — If you have expired or unused prescription drugs taking up space in your medicine cabinet, Tucson residents will have an opportunity to safely get rid of them later this month.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 23. The purpose of the twice-annual event is to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs so they don’t end up in the wrong hands.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 21st event in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. During the April 2021 event, agencies collected nearly 840,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs.

The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles, and sharps won’t be accepted during the event.

The Tucson Police Department is among participating agencies. Tucson police and other neighboring law enforcement agencies will collect unused prescription drugs at various locations below:

TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
FRY'S FOOD & DRUGPARKING LOT
7050 E. 22ND STREET
TUCSON, AZ 85710

PASCUA YAQUI POLICE DEPARTMENT
PASCUA YAQUI POLICE DEPARTMENTCOLL. SITE TO BE DRIVE UP AND DRIVE OFF
7777 S. CAMINO HUIVISIM
TUCSON, AZ 85757

PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
WALGREEN'SOUTSIDE NEAR ENTRANCE
2929 W. VALENCIA RD.
TUCSON, AZ 85746

PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
WALGREEN'SOUTSIDE NEAR ENTRANCE
1415 W. RIVER ROAD
TUCSON, AZ 85704

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA POLICE DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA POLICE DEPARTMENTIN LOBBY
1852 E. 1ST STREET
TUCSON, AZ 85721

MARANA POLICE DEPARTMENT
FRY'SFRONT ENTRANCE OF STORE
7870 N. SILVERBELL
TUCSON, AZ 85743

SOUTH TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH TUCSON POLICE DEPARTMENTOUTSIDE OF CITY HALL MAIN ENTRANCE
1601 S. 6TH AVENUE
TUCSON, AZ 85713

If you can’t make it to any of those locations, here’s where to find a year-round drug take-back site.

Each year, millions of people misuse prescription pain relievers, stimulants, tranquilizers and sedatives.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives that year.

The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet.

More than 96,700 people died from opioid-involved overdoses during the 12-month period ending in March 2021, according to provisional estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on items not accepted during take-back events, including the disposal of sharps and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

Given the ongoing pandemic, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency also have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs without leaving home.