Is your medicine cabinet full of expired or old prescription medications you no longer use? Your medicine is for you. What’s safe for you might be harmful to someone else. Proper disposal of your expired, unwanted or unused prescription medications is key to reducing prescription drug abuse and introducing prescription medication into the environment.

Old prescription & over-the-counter medicine stored in the home can be susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Federal, state, and local government agencies also advise that disposal of prescription medication through your normal, municipal waste service poses environmental hazards, such as introducing medication into the local water supply.

The most effective method to properly rid yourself of unwanted medications is to keep them secure and, when the medication is no longer needed or expired, bring them to an authorized collection site.

Hartig Drug provides this crucial drug take-back service year-round in all of our Iowa locations. The bright green MedDrop™ receptacles are always free and easy-to-use, convenient and anonymous. Safe and secure disposal is offered for prescription drugs, patches, ointments, pet medications, and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. While the MedDrop™ boxes are DEA compliant to accept Controlled Substances, the containers cannot accept sharps, medical waste, aerosols, illicit drugs or commercial waste.

For our patients in Illinois or Wisconsin, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) partners with local law enforcement agencies to provide Take Back Days the last Saturday every April and October across the country. This Saturday, October 27th, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 2p.m., the DEA will take and dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medications. This service is always free, anonymous, and with no questions asked. 

On October 27th, please consider disposing of your unwanted medications responsibly by visiting one of the authorized collection receptacles or take back sites listed below. As always, if you have any questions about the disposal of medication please contact your local Hartig Drug pharmacist.

Click HERE for the most up-to-date DEA Take Back locations. (Information below is subject to change.)

Belle Plaine, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

810 12^th St.

319-444-2480

Darlington, WI

Darlington Police Department (Year-round, 24/7) More info..

Darlington Municipal Building

627 Main St.--Parking Lot Entrance 

608-935-5827

Dubuque, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

157 Locust St.

563-588-8703

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

2255 John F. Kennedy Rd.

 563-588-8703

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

2225 Central Ave.

563-588-8704

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

1600 University Ave.

563-588-8708

Dyersville, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

711 16^th Ave SE

563-875-2552

Fennimore, WI

Fennimore Municipal Building (Year-round, 24/7)

860 Lincoln Ave.

608-822-3215

Galena, IL

Galena Police Dept. (Year-round, M-F 8a.m.-4:30pm) More info..

311 N Bench St.

815-777-2131

Guttenberg, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

200 Main St. Suite 1

563-329-1471

Independence, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

200 First St. E

319-334-7155

Iowa City, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

701 Mormon Trek Blvd.

319-337-5778

Lancaster, WI

Lancaster Police Dept. (Year-round, 24/7) More info..

222 S. Madison St.

608-723-4188

Monticello, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

419 E. First St.

319-465-4906

Platteville, WI

Platteville Police Dept. (Year-round, 24/7)

165 N. 4^th St.

608-348-2313

Prairie du Chien, WI

Crawford Co. Sheriff’s Office (Year-round, 24/7)

224 N. Beaumont Rd.

608-326-8414

Prophetstown, IL

Whiteside County Sheriff's Department (Year-round, 24/7)

400 N Cherry St. Morrison, IL

815-772-4044

Savanna, IL

Sabula Police Dept. (October 27, 10a.m. – 2p.m.)

411 Broad St, Sabula, IA

563-652-2468

Stockton, IL

Stockton Police Department (Year-round, 24/7) More info..

105 W. North Ave.

815-947-9157

Waukon, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

21 West Main

563-568-6315

Williamsburg, IA

Hartig Drug (Year-round)

517 Court St.

319-668-1520

For more information on safe drug disposal and the DEA National Drug Take Back Day, go to takebackday.dea.gov