How to Safely Dispose of a Deceased Person's Medications

After a loved one dies, their medicine cabinet often holds dozens of prescription bottles — including, in many cases, opioids and other controlled substances. These medications need to be handled promptly and correctly: they represent both a public safety risk if diverted, and a legal issue if kept without authorization.

Why This Matters

Prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths are among the most significant public health crises in the United States — and a significant portion of diverted prescription drugs originate from household supplies of people who no longer need them. Deceased persons' medications are a particular risk: they may sit in an unlocked home for weeks during the estate settlement process, accessible to anyone who enters.

Acting promptly on medication disposal is a safety matter, not just an administrative task.

The Safest Option: Medication Take-Back Programs

DEA-authorized medication take-back programs are available at pharmacies, hospitals, police stations, and other locations across the country. They accept both controlled and non-controlled substances, are anonymous (no questions asked), and ensure medications are disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.

How to find a location:

DEA Diversion Control Division locator: apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch
Call 1-800-882-9539
Many CVS, Walgreens, and independent pharmacies have year-round drop boxes
Local police departments often have lobby drop boxes

If No Take-Back Is Available

Flushing (for specific high-risk medications)

The FDA maintains a "flush list" of medications recommended for disposal by flushing when no take-back option is available. These are primarily opioids and other controlled substances where the risk of misuse or harm to others outweighs the environmental considerations of flushing. Current flush-list medications include: buprenorphine, fentanyl patches, hydrocodone, oxycodone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxymorphone, tapentadol, and others. Check the current FDA flush list at fda.gov before flushing any medication.

Household trash (for non-controlled medications not on the flush list)

For medications not on the flush list and without a take-back option:

Remove medications from original containers and mix with an undesirable substance — coffee grounds, dirt, or kitty litter
Place the mixture in a sealed container (zip-lock bag, empty coffee can)
Throw the sealed container in household trash
Scratch out or remove personal information from prescription labels before discarding containers

Do not crush or dissolve extended-release formulations before disposal.

Special Situations

Hospice medications

Hospice comfort kits typically include opioids and require careful handling. The hospice nurse who comes to pronounce the death can often assist with or witness the destruction of controlled substances. Do not leave hospice kit medications unsecured or unattended.

Liquid medications

Liquid medications should be transferred to a sealable container with an undesirable substance before trash disposal. Liquid opioids (morphine solution, methadone liquid) are on the FDA flush list.

Inhalers and aerosols

Do not puncture or incinerate pressurized containers. Check with local pharmacies about take-back options for inhalers; most metered-dose inhalers can be placed in trash (not recycling) after releasing residual propellant in an open area.

Needles and sharps

Needles, syringes, and lancets should never be placed in household recycling. Options: FDA-cleared sharps disposal containers (available at pharmacies), mail-back programs, or community sharps disposal programs. Check safeneedledisposal.org for local options.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the safest way to dispose of prescription medications after someone dies?

The safest and most recommended method is a DEA-authorized medication take-back program. These are drop-off locations — typically at pharmacies, hospitals, and police stations — where controlled and non-controlled medications can be disposed of safely and anonymously, with no questions asked. The DEA holds National Prescription Drug Take Back Days twice yearly; to find year-round locations, use the DEA's Diversion Control Division locator at apps.deadiversion.usdoj.gov or call 1-800-882-9539. If no take-back option is available, the FDA recommends flushing certain high-risk medications (primarily opioids and other controlled substances) rather than leaving them accessible — the FDA maintains a specific "flush list" of medications recommended for disposal by flushing. For non-controlled medications without a take-back option nearby, the FDA recommends mixing with coffee grounds or dirt in a sealed container and placing in household trash.

Can you keep a deceased person's prescription medications?

Legally, prescription medications are prescribed to a specific person and are not legally transferable to another person. Using someone else's prescription medication — even a family member's — is illegal under federal and state law. Beyond legality, it's medically dangerous: medications are prescribed for specific conditions, dosages, and interactions with other medications the patient takes. Keeping controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants) that were prescribed to someone who has died creates security risks — they are among the most commonly diverted and misused drugs. The correct action is to dispose of medications promptly through a take-back program.

What should you do with unused hospice medications after a death?

Hospice comfort kits — which typically contain opioids and other controlled substances for pain and symptom management — must be handled with particular care after a death. The hospice nurse who comes to pronounce the death should be able to assist with medication disposal: they can either take the medications back (hospice nurses in some states are authorized to witness destruction of controlled substances) or advise you on the proper local disposal method. Don't flush hospice medications without guidance — the FDA's flush list includes specific opioids, but the hospice nurse or pharmacist is the best resource. Do not leave controlled substances from hospice kits unsecured even briefly — they represent a significant theft and misuse risk.