Safely Storing and Disposing of Unwanted Prescription
One important reason to be careful about how you store and dispose of prescriptions is that a common source for the misuse of pain medications is a relative or a friend. In fact, nearly half of the people who misused pain prescriptions obtained them from a relative or friend.
But, there are other reasons as well.
Medications that are not properly stored in your home can be a risk to kids and pets who might accidentally ingest them. And, flushing medications or tossing them in the trash is a danger to our waterways and wildlife.
That is why we’re asking you to follow these three easy steps to properly store and get rid of medications.
LOCK
Store your medications in a lock box or locked medicine cabinet.
DROP
Drop off unused medication at a kiosk at your local pharmacy or police station. See the list below for a location near you.
Every spring and fall, you can participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, which provides a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Find participating Take Back Day locations.
MAIL
Or mail unused medication in a pre-paid envelope.
- Request a Free Medication Mail-Back Envelope
- How to use a Mail-Back Envelope
- Have you used or distributed the mail-back envelopes? Provide feedback!
- Want to provide free mail-back envelopes to your patrons? Let us know!
Use the map above for detailed information on each specific facility, briefly described in the list below.
Tip: to narrow down the list to your area, use the search feature to type in your city, town or county.
County | Facility | Address and Phone Number | Days and Times of Operation | Materials Accepted | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windham |
Greater Falls Pharmacy Inc. |
78 Atkinson Street, Bellows Falls 802-460-2634 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 7pm Sat: 9am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches | |
Lamoille | Kinney Drugs Pharmacy | 155 S. Main Street, Cambridge 802-644-8811 |
Mon-Fri 8:30am-7pm Sat 8:30am-7pm Sun 9am-2pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols | |
Franklin | Kinney Drugs Pharmacy | 164 Swanton Road, St. Albans 802-524-6543 |
Mon-Fri 8am-8:30pm Sat 8am-8:30pm Sun 9am-5pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols | |
Rutland | Rutland Pharmacy | 75 Allen Street, Rutland 802-775-2545 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 9pm Sat-Sun: 9am - 7pm |
Pills, Patches | |
Washington | Barre City Police Department | 15 Fourth Street, Barre 802-476-6613 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Bennington | Bennington County Sheriff’s Department | 811 US Route 7, Bennington 802-442-4900 |
Mon-Fri: 7am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Bennington | Bennington Police Station | 118 South Street, Bennington 802-442-1030 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Windham | Brattleboro Police Department | 62 Black Mountain Road, Suite 101 Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-257-2302 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Addison | Bristol Village Police Department* | 73 Munsill Avenue, Bristol 802-453-2533 |
Call Ahead | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Chittenden | Burlington Police Station | 1 North Avenue, Burlington 802-658-2704 |
Administrative Entrance Lobby: 7:30am-4pm After Hours: Use entrance to Uniformed Service Bureau: 24/7; Lobby can be accessed from there |
Pills, Patches | |
Rutland | Castleton Police Department | 273 VT Route 30 N, Castleton 802-468-5012 |
Mon-Fri: 6am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches |
|
Orange | Orange County Sheriff's Department | 11 Route 113, Chelsea 802-685-4875 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Windsor | Chester Police Department | 556 Elm Street, Chester 802-875-2035 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Essex Police Department | 145 Maple Street, Essex Junction 802-878-8331 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Rutland | Fair Haven Police Department | 3 North Park Place, Fair Haven 802-265-4531 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 2pm | Pills, Patches | |
Essex | Essex County Sheriff's Department | 91 Courthouse Drive, Guildhall 802-676-3500 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Grafton | Hanover Public Safety Building | 46 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 802-643-2222 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Caledonia | Hardwick Police Department* | 56 High Street, Hardwick 802-472-5475 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Windsor | Hartford Police Department | 812 Va Cutoff Road, Hartford 802-295-3232 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Hinesburg Police Station* | 10298 Route 116, Hinesburg 802-482-3397 |
Mon-Fri: 7am - 11pm | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Lamoille | Lamoille County Sheriff's Department | 162 Commonwealth Avenue, Hyde Park 802-888-3502 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Windsor | Ludlow Police Department | 19 Westhill Street, Ludlow 802-228-4411 |
7 Days: 8am - 5pm | Pills, Patches | |
Caledonia | Lyndon Police Department | 316 Main Street, Lyndonville 802-626-1271 |
Tuesday: 8am - 8pm All other days: By Appointment |
Pills, Patches | |
Bennington | Manchester Public Safety Facility | 6041 Main Street, Manchester 802-362-2121 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Addison | Middlebury Police Department* | 1 Lucius Shaw Lane, Middlebury 802-388-3191 |
7 Days: 6am - 11pm | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Washington | Washington County Sheriff's Office* | 10 Elm Street, Montpelier 802-223-3001 |
Call Ahead | Call for details | |
Lamoille | Morristown Police Department | 121 Lower Main Street, Morristown 802-888-4211 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches |
|
Windham | Windham County Sheriff's Department | 11 Jail Street, Newfane 802-365-4942 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Orleans | Orleans County Vermont Sheriff's Department | 5578 US Route 5, Newport 802-334-3333 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols |
|
Orleans | Newport Police Department | 222 Main Street, Newport 802-334-6733 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Grand Isle | Grand Isle County Sheriff's Department* | 3677 US Route 2, North Hero 802-372-4482 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 3pm Call ahead if dropping off after 3pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Washington | Northfield Police Department | 110 Wall Street, Northfield 802-485-9181 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4:30pm Also available by appointment |
Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Richmond Police Station | 203 Bridge Street, Richmond 802-434-2156 |
Administrative Hours: Mon-Thurs: 7am-4:30pm Fri: 7am-Noon After Hours: Call Ahead |
Pills, Patches, Boxed Sharps | |
Windham | Bellows Falls and Rockingham Police Department |
170 Rockingham Street, Rockingham 802-463-1234 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Windsor | Royalton Police Department | 17 North Windsor Street, South Royalton 802-763-7776 |
Call Ahead Mon-Fri: 9am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches | |
Rutland | Rutland County Sheriff's Office | 88 Grove Street, Rutland 802-775-8002 |
Mon-Sat: 6am - midnight Sun: 6am - 8pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Chittenden | Shelburne Police Department | 5420 Shelburne Road, Shelburne 802-985-8051 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols | |
Chittenden | South Burlington Police Station | 19 Gregory Drive, South Burlington 802-846-4111 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Windsor | Springfield Police Department | 201 Clinton Street, Springfield 802-885-2113 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Franklin | Saint Albans Police Department Central Dispatch | 30 Lower Welden Street, St. Albans 802-524-2166 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Shaw's Osco Pharmacy | 71 Boxwood St, Williston (802) 878-9056 |
Mon-Sat: 7am - 10pm Sunday: 7am – 9pm |
Pills, Patches | |
Caledonia | Caledonia County Sheriff | 1126 Main Street, St. Johnsbury 802-748-6666 |
Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 4:30pm Closed State Holidays |
Pills, Patches | |
Caledonia |
St Johnsbury Police Department |
1187 Main Street, St. Johnsbury 802-748-2314 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Franklin | Swanton Village Police Department | 120 First Street, Swanton 802-868-4100 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Windham | Dover Police Department | 246 Route 100, West Dover 802-464-8722 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Williston Police Department | 7928 Williston Road, Williston 802-878-6611 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Windham | Wilmington Police Department | 2 E Main Street, Wilmington 802-464-8593 |
7 days: 8am - 4:30pm | Pills, Patches | |
Windsor | Windsor Police Department | 29 Union Street, Windsor 802-674-9042 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Bennington | Winhall Police Department | 113 VT Route 30, Winhall 802-297-1013 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | Winooski Police Station | 27 W Allen Street, Winooski 802-655-0221 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Windsor | Woodstock Emergency Services | 454 Woodstock Road, Woodstock 802-457-1420 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Chittenden | UVM ACC Campus Outpatient Pharmacy | 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington 802-847-3784 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm Arnold Level 1 |
Pills, Patches, Liquids up to 4 ounces | |
Chittenden | UVM Main Campus Outpatient Pharmacy | 111 Colchester Avenue, Burlington 802-847-2821 |
Mon-Fri: 7:30am - 11pm Sat-Sun: 8:30am – 5pm Main Lobby Level 3 |
Pills, Patches, Liquids up to 4 ounces | |
Chittenden | UVM Fanny Allen Campus Outpatient Pharmacy | 792 College Parkway, Colchester 802-847-7461 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm Medical Office Building, Suite 103 |
Pills, Patches, Liquids up to 4 ounces | |
Washington | Berlin Police Department* | 108 Shed Road, Berlin 802-223-4401 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm | Pills, Patches, Sharps | |
Bennington | Southwestern Vermont Medical Center | 100 Hospital Drive, Bennington 802-442-6361 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols | |
Orleans |
Brighton Police Department |
23 East Brighton Road, Island Pond 802-723-4322 |
By Appointment | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Aerosols, Sharps | |
Washington | Montpelier Police Department | 1 Pitkin Court, Montpelier 802-223-3445 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Sharps | |
Washington | Barre Town Police Department | 149 Websterville Road, Websterville 802-479-0508 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Rutland | Rutland Regional Medical Center | 160 Allen Street, Rutland 802-747-1777 |
Mon-Fri: 7am - 5pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids up to 4 oz. |
|
Windsor | Springfield Pharmacy | 262 River Street, Springfield 802-885-6400 |
Mon-Fri: 9am-7pm Sat: 9am-1pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Windsor | Ludlow Pharmacy | 57 Pond Street, Ludlow 802-228-2500 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 7pm Sat: 9am - 5pm Sun: 9am - 3pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Franklin | NOTCH Pharmacy | 44 Main Street, Richford 802-255-5530 |
Mon: 9am - 7pm Tues-Fri: 9am - 5:30pm Sat: 9am - 12pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Chittenden | Lakeside Pharmacy | 242 Pearl Street, Burlington 802-862-1491 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm Sat: 9am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Franklin | Northwestern Medical Center | 133 Fairfield Street, St. Albans 802-524-5911 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 8pm Sat: 9am - 5pm Sun: 9am - 3pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Windham | The Hotel Pharmacy | 20 Elliot Street, Suite 1, Brattleboro 802-254-2303 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm Sat: 9am - 5pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Orange | Gifford Health Care | 44 South Main Street, Randolph 802-728-7000 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 5pm Sat: 8am - 4pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Windham | Brattleboro Memorial Hospital |
17 Belmont Avenue, Brattleboro |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Bennington | The Pharmacy Northshire | 34 Ways Lane, Manchester Center 802-362-0390 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm Sat: 8am - 6pm Sun: 9am - 3pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Chittenden | Milton Police Department | 37 Bombardier Road, Milton 802-893-2424 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 4pm | Pills, Patches | |
Rutland | Brandon Police Department | 301 Forest Dale Road, Brandon 802-247-0222 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Orleans | North Country Hospital | 189 Prouty Drive, Newport 802-334-7331 |
Mon-Fri: 7am - 5pm | PIlls, Patches (Sharps at alternate kiosk) | |
Caledonia | Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital | 1315 Hospital Drive, St Johnsbury 802-748-8141 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Windham | Green Mountain Pharmacy | 5700 Route 100, Londonderry 802-824-3344 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 5:30pm Sat: 9am - 5pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Washington | Kinney Drugs Pharmacy | 5091 Main Street, Waitsfield 802-496-2345 |
Mon-Fri: 9am - 6pm Sat: 9am - 1pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Washington | Kinney Drugs Pharmacy | 80 South Main Street, Waterbury 802-244-8458 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 7pm Sat: 8:30am - 5pm Sun: 9am - 3pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Chittenden | UVM Police | 284 East Avenue, Burlington 802-656-3473 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches | |
Washington | Kinney Drugs Pharmacy | 800 Route 302, Barre 802-476-6659 |
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 8:30pm Sat: 9am - 7pm Sun: 9am - 5pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Washington | Central Vermont Medical Center | 130 Fisher Road, Berlin 802-371-4100 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches, Liquids, Sharps | |
Bennington | The Pharmacy | 205 North Street, Bennington 802-442-5602 |
Mon-Fri: 8am - 7pm Sat: 8am - 6pm Sun: 9am - 12:30pm |
Pills, Patches, Liquids | |
Lamoille | Stowe Police Department | 350 South Main Street, Stowe 802-253-7126 |
24 Hours/7 Days | Pills, Patches |
Most facilities have prescription drug disposal drop boxes.
*Hand to staff.
How do disposal sites work?
- Gather unwanted or expired medication from your home
- Remove or obscure personal information from containers
- Place prescription directly into drop-off kiosk. No need to remove from packaging.
- Do not place loose pills or other mediations directly in kiosk. If needed, please place pills in a clear zippered bag.
What can I dispose of at the drop-off locations? Materials accepted vary by location but may include:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medications
- Medicated ointments and lotions
- Pet medications
- Consult the List of Prescription Drug Disposal Sites for details.
What can’t I dispose of at the drop-off locations?
- Illegal Controlled Substances
- Materials accepted vary by location. Consult the List of Prescription Drug Disposal Sites for details.
Are you a law enforcement agency interested in participating in the DSU drug disposal pilot project? Contact us to learn more.
Are you a pharmacy, hospital or long term care facility interested in having a permanent drug disposal kiosk onsite? Contact us to learn more.
Additional resources:
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, visit VTHelplink.org for support and referral services.